FALCO COMMUNIS, PEREGRINE FALCON. 343 



A more distinct form than either of the foregoing is, according to nearly all authori- 

 ties, that found in South Africa (var. minor), it being constantly smaller. 



Following Dr. Schlegel, I omit from the abiive synonymy the names of the Indian 

 Red Falcon {F. rithcr indictis, Antiq. ; F. communis indicns, G.M, ; /■'. shaheen, Jehd., Ma- 

 dras Jonrn. x, 81 ; 111. Ind. Orn. pi. 12; /■'. sulianens, YIodg., Zool. Misc. 81 ; F. niier, 

 SCHL., M. P.-B. i, 1862, 5 ; F. pereqnnator, Gjsav A: Bp., an ScxD. ?), which seems to be 

 entitled to' specific separation. By some authors, both early and latu, it is rated as a 

 variety of communis, while others hold it to be distinct. 



The Peregriue occurs at intervals in all suitable places iu North Amer- 

 ica, and it is not a little remarkable that its extensive breeding range 

 should have only lately been ascertained. Even so late as 1857, Dr. 

 Brewer stated that he had only recently become aware of its breeding 

 iu the United States, and that only one authentic instance of its occur- 

 rence during the breeding season south of Newfoundland had come to 

 his knowledge. He appends a foot-note, containing information from 

 Prof. Haldeman of its breeding on a cliff along the Susquehanna, near 

 Columbia, Pennsylvania, and also, probably, at Harper's Ferry in Vir- 

 ginia. More recently Mr. Allen, with the assistance of Mr. C. W. Ben- 

 nett and Dr. W. Wood, of East Windsor Hill, Connecticut, have been 

 conspicuous in elaborating the history of the species, and especially in 

 establishing the fact that it regularly breeds on several of the mount- 

 ains on and near the Connecticut Eiver Valley. Mr. Boardman rei)orts 

 the same item from Grand Menan, where, he says, the bird is resident, 

 and regularly breeds on the cliffs. Dr. V\'ood, in the newspaper above 

 quoted, states that tour nearly fledged young were taken from a nest on 

 Talcott Mountain, near Hartford, June 1, 1861, the female parent being 

 shot. Writing in 1864, Mr. Allen states that Mr. Bennett took young 

 birds, "a few years since,-' on Mount Tom, near Springfield, Massachu- 

 setts. Shortly afterward Mr. Allen announced the discovery of the eggs 

 by Mr. Bennett, on Mount Tom, April 19, 1864 ; these were the tirst 

 known to have been procured in New England, or, indeed, in the United 

 States. The unusual interest attaching to bis article induces me to 

 quote at some length : 



"Although the Duck Hawk has been long known to breed at the 

 localities in Massachusetts mentioned above [Mounts Tom and Holyoke], 

 those conversant with the fact were not aware that any special interest 

 was attached to it, or that its eggs and breeding-habits were very little 

 known to ornithologists; and so, until very recently, no particular 

 efforts have been made to procure the eggs'. Mr. Bennett, becoming 

 aware of this, resolved to procure the eggs. He accordingly visited 

 Mount Tom for this purpose, April 6th of tlie present year [1864], when 

 he searched the whole ridge of the mountain, discovered the old birds and 

 the particular part they most frequented, and also the site of a nest, 

 where the young had been raised. The old birds were continually near 

 this spot, and manifested much sobcitude when it was approached, often 

 flying within six or eight rods, and once the female came within three, 

 screaming and thrusting out her talons, w'ith an expression of great 

 rage and fierceness. The birds did not appear at all sby, being easily 

 approached quite nearly, though in walking, the cracking; of sticks anil 

 the clinking of spbnters of trap-rock made no little noise. One of the 

 birds appeared to keep close to the eyrie, and both would approach 

 whenever it was visited, screaming at and menacing the intruder, not- 

 withstanding that at that time there were no eggs. Mr. Bennett, sus- 

 pecting that incubation had commenced, visited the locality again on 

 the 9th, but only saw the old nest, the birds behaving as before. Ten 

 days later he made another visit, and, creeping carefully to the summit 

 of the cliff, at a point near the eyrie already spoken of, he saw the 



