-8 



VERTEBRATES: BIRDS. 



The Pereyrinc Falcon, or Duck Hawk, of North 

 America, pursues its prey with almost inconceivable 

 velocit}- throu-h all its turnings and windings, and 

 when within a few feet, protrudes its talons, grasps the 

 prize, and bears it away to some secluded place and 

 devours it. Sometimes it sweeps over the water and 

 catches up ducks and other swimming birds. This 

 Falcon is about a foot and a half in length. The Pere- 

 grine Falcon of Europe, vevy much like this species, 

 was formerly much used in falconry, a fashionable 

 sport of kings, nobles, and fair ladies. 



The Sparrow Hawk, of Amer- 

 ica, is the smallest of the Hawks, 

 being but little larger than the 

 common Robin. It prej'S upon 

 small birds, mice and insects. 

 It becomes attached to a parti- 

 cular locality, and may be seen 

 day after day on the same tree or 

 stump watching for prey. 



The Bald, or White-headed, 

 Eagle, of North America, is found 

 along the seacoasts, lakes and rivers, and usually 

 makes its nest on some tall tree. Although called 

 bald, its head is clothed ^\•ith white feathers. Its prin- 

 cipal food is fish, which it obtains mainly by robbing 

 the Osprey, or F'ishhawk. Seated on a dead limb of 

 a large tree tliat commands a view of the waters, it 

 \\'atches the F'ishhawk as he descends and plunges 

 into the deep, and, as he emerges with his prey and 

 rises into the air, the Eagle gives chase ; each moves 

 with its utmost speed, but the Eagle rapidly gains, and 

 as it is about to reach the Hawk, the latter drops the 



Fi^. 107 — Sp.iriow Hawk. 



