PEREGRINE FALCON. 11 
PEREGRINE FALCON. 
Fatco PEREGRINUS, T'unst. 
Pl. IIL., fig. 6. 
Geogr. disty.—Greenland to Southern Africa; Asia as far as Java 
and Sumatra; America from Hudson’s Bay to the Argentine Republic: 
it occurs in suitable localities in Great Britain, beimg found on the 
rocky coasts of Scotland, England from Kent to Cornwall, and Wales; 
less commonly in Ireland. 
Food.—Small birds, young game and ducks. 
Nest.—Loosely formed of twigs and sticks. 
Position of nest.—In deserted nests of other Raptores, in trees, on 
inaccessible cliffs and ledges of rocks, or even occasionally upon the 
ground. 
Number of eggs. - 3-4; usually 4. 
Time of nidification.—III-VI; May. 
This bird has been known to attack the Heron, being 
both powerful and courageous: it is therefore not surprising 
that it was formerly much valued by falconers: it breeds 
chiefly on the ledges of bold cliffs on most parts of our 
coasts, and consequently its eggs are not, as a rule, easy to 
obtain. 
The speed of the Peregrine Falcon upon the wing has 
been estimated at probably not less than a hundred miles 
an hour, and the force with which it strikes its quarry 
something prodigious: unlike some of the other hawks, it 
kills its victim at once, by tearing open the throat or head. 
Like all the hawks, it is said ‘“‘invariably to choose the 
easiest flight,’ and therefore, as the weaker game are 
destroyed before the stronger, it is believed that the 
constant destruction of hawks of all kinds by gamekeepers 
is positively injurious to the interests of preservers. Of 
course there are two sides to this question, for it cannot be 
denied that such an argument will only apply to full-fledged 
birds pursued upon the wing, and not to such as are taken 
from the nest or poultry-yard. According to Dixon, the 
Puffin is a favourite morsel, but nevertheless he says that 
this bird displays very little alarm whilst the Peregrine is 
sailing high in air above it, and moreover that it is not 
uncommon: to see it, ‘‘when its appetite is satisfied, 
surrounded by Terns and Gulls, and see the Puftins sitting 
quite unconcerned a stone’s throw from their enemy.” 
