Flight. 
Used in 
Falconry. 
Food. 
General 
descrip- 
tion. 
Adult Fe- 
male. 
40 RAPACES. FALCO. ‘ Fatcons: 
them, whilst they beat the surrounding ground. Upon their 
having found, and sprung a brood of grouse, the falcon 
immediately gave chase, and struck a young bird, before they 
had proceeded far upon wing. My shouts and rapid advance 
prevented it from securing its prey. The issue of this at- 
tempt, however, did not deter the falcon from watching our 
subsequent movements, and another opportunity soon offer- 
ing, it again gave chase, and struck down two birds by two 
rapidly repeated blows, one of which it secured, and bore off 
in triumph. : 
The flight of this species, when pursuing its quarry, is 
astonishingly rapid, almost beyond credibility. By Movy- 
TaGuU it has been reckoned at 150 miles in an hour. 
Colonel TuornTon, an expert falconer, estimated the flight 
of a falcon, in pursuit of a snipe, to have been nine miles 
in eleven minutes, without including the frequent turns. 
This sort was formerly much used in falconry, and was 
flown at the larger kinds of game, wild ducks and herons. 
In its unreclaimed state it preys upon the different sorts 
of game, wild geese, wild ducks and pigeons. 
Pirate 15. An adult female, in three-fourths of the natural 
size. 
Bill deep bluish-grey at the base, black towards the tip. 
Cere and space surrounding the eyes lemon-yellow. Ini- 
des brown. From the corners of the mouth is a bluish 
black patch or streak pointing downwards. Head grey- 
ish-black. Upper parts of the plumage deep bluish- 
grey, marbled with a darker tint. Quills brownish- 
black, the inner webs barred with white. Tail coverts 
bluish-grey, barred with greyish-black. 
Tail barred alternately with black and grey, the tips of 
the feathers white. Throat and breast yellowish-white. 
Belly, vent and thighs greyish, transversely barred with 
greyish-black. Under wing-coverts white, barred with 
black ; tarsi short and strong. Toes very long, parti- 
