l6o THE PEREGRINE FALCON 



of the chivalry of the Middle Ages, a veritable knight-errant, always 

 armed, and ready to do battle in any cause against all comers. 



In France the Peregrine Falcon is most abundant in the marshy 

 districts of the north, which are much frequented by Snipes and 

 Wild Duck ; with us it is most commonly seen in those parts of the 

 sea-coast where sea-fowl abound. The high cliffs of the Isle of 

 Wight, Boachy Head, North Wales, and the Scottish coast have 

 been favourite haunts, and there it once reigned supreme among 

 the feathered tribe, but it becomes more scarce, alas ! of late. It 

 makes its eyrie in the most inaccessible part of the cliff, constructing 

 no nest, but laying two to four eggs in a cavity of a rock where a 

 little loose earth has been deposited; sometimes in the deserted 

 nest of the Raven or Carrion Crow. If either of the old birds 

 happens to be shot during the period of breeding, it is incredible in 

 how short a space of time the survivor finds a new mate. Within 

 a short distance from their nest they establish a larder well sup- 

 plied with Puf&ns, Jackdaws, and above all. Kestrels ; while the 

 immediate neighbourhood is strewed with bones. Remarkable 

 as are both male and female bird for muscular power and high 

 courage, the latter, which is also considerably larger, is by far the 

 superior. The female was, consequently, in the days of falconry 

 flown at Herons and Ducks, and she was the falcon proper among 

 falconers ; the male, termed a Tiercel or Tiercelet, was flown at 

 Partridges and Pigeons. In their native haunts they seem to cause 

 little alarm among the Puf&ns and Razor-bills by which they are 

 surrounded, but the sudden appearance of a pair in a part of the 

 cliff frequented by Jackdaws, causes terrible consternation ; while 

 any number of intruders on their own domain are driven away with 

 indomitable courage. When pressed by hunger, or desirous of 

 changing their diet, they condescend to attack and capture birds 

 so small as a Lark, and it is remarkable that however puny may be 

 the prey, the Falcon preserves its instinctive habit of dealing a 

 deadly blow at once, as if afraid that under all circumstances the 

 natural impulse of its quarry were to stand on the defensive. Even 

 in ordinary flight the movement of its wings is exceedingly quick, 

 but when it stoops on its prey its rapidity of descent is marvellous, 

 accompanied too, as it is, by a sound that may be heard at a dis- 

 tance of two hundred yards. Perhaps no bird has had more written 

 about it than this Falcon, numerous treatises have been composed 

 on the art of ' reclaiming ' it, or training it for hawking, and the 

 proper method of conducting the sport. We have at present space 

 only to add a few words on the latter subject. The art of the 

 falconer is to intercept the Herons when flying against the wind. 

 When a Heron passes, a cast or couple of Falcons are thrown off, 

 which dart into the air, flying in a spiral direction to get above the 

 Heron. As soon as the first has attained the necessary elevation, 

 she makes a stoop, and if she misses, a second stoop is made by the 



