NATURAL HISTORY OF THE BERMUDAS. 215 



Hussars, who " could see distinctly " that the blow was 

 delivered by the hind talons, adding — "the effect was 

 instantaneously fatal " the back of the Woodcock being 

 completely ripped up, and the lower part of its skull split 

 open." 



It will, perhaps be considered presumptuous in me 

 to doubt the correctness of an opinion emanating from 

 persons so eminently qualified to deal with this question, 

 as Mr. Knox and Colonel Bonham, but as these gentle- 

 men appear to me to have arrived at a conclusion not 

 borne out by the observations upon which it is supposed to 

 be founded, I shall claim the privilege of making a few 

 remarks upon the subject. 



That a Grouse, a Duck, or a Woodcock, which has been 

 struck down by a Peregrine, will generally be found with 

 the loins and shoulders deeply scarred ; the back of the 

 neck much torn ; and even the skull sometimes penetrated, 

 is doubtless the case, but have we any just reason to 

 suppose that all this laceration is the work of the power- 

 ful hind talons of the Falcon ? When the quarry is struck, 

 it is in a " slanting downward direction from behind." Now 

 may we not presume that in thus striking at a velocity so 

 much beyond that of its unfortunate victim, and when the 

 powerful hind talons are deeply scoring the loins of its prey 

 (the two bodies moving as they do in the same direction, 

 and in a medium so subtile as the atmosphere) the Falcon 

 must rapidly part with a portion of this velocity, increasing 

 that of the quarry to an equal degree ? And may not 

 this momentary collision afford ample opportunity to the 

 aggressor, not only to clutch his prey with all his powerful 

 talons, but likewise to apply the formidable power of his 

 sharp pointed and curved bill to the vertebra of the neck, 

 or to the cranium, and thereby cause the destruction of the 

 quarry, previous to casting it adrift in mid-air ? 



