O78 GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 
manner of our deceased friend, and engraved by the ac. rate and in. 
genious Lawson. im 0 ' 
This noble bird had excited our curiosity for along time. Every 
visit which we made to the coast, was rendered doubly interesting by 
the wonderful stories which we heard of its exploits in fowling, and of 
its daring enterprise. There was not a gunner along the shore but 
knew it well; and each could relate something of it which bordered 
on the marvellous. It was described as darting with the rapidity of 
an arrow on the Ducks when on the wing, and striking them down 
with the projecting bone of its breast. Even the Wild Geese were 
said to be in danger from its attacks, it having been known to sacrifice 
them to its rapacity. 
To behold this hero, the terror of the wild fowl, and the wonder of 
the sportsmen, was the chief object of our wishes. Day after day did 
we traverse the salt marshes, and explore the ponds and estuaries which 
the web-footed tribes frequent in immense multitudes, in the hope of 
obtaining the imperial depredator ; even all the gunners of the district 
were summoned to our aid, with the assurance of a great reward if 
the prey in an open manner by the exercise of their own organs. Noble and bear- 
ing in their carriage, the Falcons are as much distinguished from the Vultures by 
their graceful proportions, “as those of the lion place him in the ranks of crea- 
tion above the gaunt, ravenous, grisly, vet dastard wolf.” Placed, by their strong 
and powerful frames, far beyand them in all rapacious powers, they feed nearly ex- 
clusively on living prey, despising all upon which they have not themselves acted 
as executioners, and particularly any carrion, which has the least savor of begin- 
ning putrescence. For these purposes they are possessed with a compactly-formed 
body, the neck comparatively short, and supported by muscles of more than ordi- 
nary strength; the feet and thighs remarkably powerful, and the wings of that true 
hirundine form and texture which points out the greater development of their power. 
The prey is generally struck while upon the wing with a rapid sweep, and is at once 
borne off, tceless completely above the weight of the assailer, when it is struck to 
the ground, and despatched at more leisure. 
The Peregrine Falcon has a considerable geographical range, extending over 
the whole of temperate Europe, North America, and New Holland. The speci- 
mens from the latter country, I may remark, are all smaller in size, but hardly any 
other distinction can be fixed upon. In Britain, it is abundant on all the rocky 
coasts towards the north, breeding, and frequenting the precipitous headlands ; in 
many districts inland it is also frequent, but the choice of them is more arbitrary and 
local. The vale of Moffat, in Dumfries-shire is one of the most favorite stations I 
am aware of ; many pairs breed there, and on the confines of Selkirkshire, choosing 
their eyries among the precipitous cliffs and streams of that mountainous district ; 
they return to the same rock, year afier year, and often fix upon the same nest for 
their breeding place. When either of the birds are killed, a mate is speedily found by 
the survivor, and returns with him to the old abode, and some of the eyries there 
have been known, and handed down to recollection, as far as the annals of the dis- 
trict extend. The Bass Rock, and Isle of May, in the Frith of Forth, each possess 
a pair, long renowned in deeds of falconry, and the Isle of Man can boast of many 
a noble bird, whose ancestors have joined in that now nearly-forgotten sport. I am 
aware of no instance in this country where the Peregrine builds on trees, as men- 
tioned by Ord, in America; nor does it seem its true babit there. Dr. Richardson 
remarks that it isa rare bird in the wooded districts of the Fur Countries, and the, 
greater part of the specimens which have reached this country have been procured 
upon the coast. ' 
To the American Faleons may be added the Merlin F. esalon, which was met 
with by Dr. Richardson, who thinks it has been there cor founded, from its similarity 
in some states. with the Pigeon Hawk. We may also mention a bird deseribed by 
Mr. Audubon as new, under the name of F. fem2rarius, but which appears nothing 
more than the adult plumage of F. columbarin+ — Ep. 
ST] <9 
