THE FLIGHT OF A FALCON. 

 By THOMAS P. AUSTIN. 

 In writing this article 1 might state that most ot my observations have beer in connection with Black - 

 cheeked Falcons 1 alco melanogenys) and to this species I will mostly refer. Bold, fearless birds of 

 magnificent (light, with wonderful powers of endurance on the wing, descending with dreadful 

 rapidity upon their prey. Their true home is the precipitous, rocky cliffs of the coast and adjacent islands, 

 also similar situations inland, but they are also sparingly dispersed throughout the woodlands of 

 the whole continent. It i- a glorious sight watching them sailing at a tremendous rate along the cliffs, 

 where they appear to be in their element. They usually dip downwards some little distance before 

 settling, then gracefully glide upwards just before they alight. To what height Falcons can fly we 

 do not know, for no systematic attempt has been made to collect data. One observer, taking a look 

 at the sun through a telescope, saw birds pass at what must have been a height of several miles, and 

 these birds are said to have been kites in quest of prey. It is safe to assume that the Falconidea fly 

 higher than any other group ; their mode of life demands it. There is something noble in the appear- 

 ance of a Falcon, which is missing in most of the larger Accipitres, in spite of the fact that the eagle 

 is chosen as a national emblem in both the old world and the new. It is probable the wonderful power 

 oi \ i-.ion possessed by the birds of this group is the finest in the world. The first thing which strikes 

 one upon picking up a shot Black-cheeked Falcon is the great weight for the size of the bird ; yet they 

 are quite capable of carrying off birds slightly exceeding their own weight. Although the Goshawks 

 are dashing birds after their prey (usually only the weaker species), they differ greatly from the Falcons 

 in having slinking habits, waiting hidden in dense retreats to suddenly pounce upon their quarry, 

 whereas the Falcons expose themselves in many ways. The Goshawk seldom openly shows itself if 

 it can help it. Xor does the Goshawk strike a terrific blow, but merely seizes with its claws, and death 

 would result from a nip with the bill. With the falcon this is unnecessary, the victim being usually 

 killed by the terrible shock from the striking power of the claws. It would be somewhat difficult to 

 compare the relative power of the Black-cheeked Falcon with that of the Wedge-tailed Eagle, but I 

 feel convinced that a Falcon in relation to its size is a much more powerful bird, and is admirably 

 adapted to its mode of life. There can be no doubt that a Black-cheeked Falcon is quite capable of 

 killing a Wedge-tailed Eagle by a blow on the head, but it would be extremely unlikely to attack 

 such a formidable opponent, for seldom, if ever, do birds of prey attack a dangerous antagonist; if 

 they did, such a life and death combat in the air would be worth a long journey to witness. I also 

 think it is highly improbable that a large Falcon will attack another Falcon of a smaller species. 

 There is a saying that " hawks do not peck out hawks' eyes " ; but the Saker Falcon will attack its 

 kind. Trained in Palestine, chiefly for the pursuit of Gazelles, it was also flown at Kites, and the fol- 

 lowing description by an eye-witness of a contest oi the latter description is illuminating : — " The 

 Saker. after going a considerable distance from its quarry (a Kite), and thereby acquiring what he 

 wanted — superior height — resumed the chase, returning downwards like a thunderbolt on the Kite. 

 Blow after blow was struck, and the helpless Kite, with his merciless enemy, descended, clutched 

 fast together, their wings expanded, in wheeling circles to the earth, where the Kite, already half 

 dead, was soon dispatched." Falconry is now out of fashion ; it is no longer a popular pastime to 

 train birds to kill other birds. I have read statements of Falcons carrying away birds 

 more than twice their own weight. Gould refers to a statement of Gilbert : " that he has seen a 

 Black-cheeked Falcon carry off a Hard-head Duck (Aylliia auslvalis), a species at least as heavy again 

 as itself." Now, if that Falcon were a female, I very much doubt if the duck even exceeded its weight. 

 How many people are there who have ever taken the trouble to weigh a Black-cheeked Falcon ? I 

 have weighed several females (strange to say I never shot a male), and found the average weight to 

 be 2 lbs. 3 ozs. I have often seen female Black-cheeked Falcons strike pigeons to the ground, but 

 I have never been an eye-witness to one being taken on the wing and carried away without touching 

 the ground, and when carrying the pigeon off after gathering it from the ground, the Falcons often 

 appear to have some difficulty in doing so. My pigeons are all homers, so are large birds, but I can 

 quite believe a Falcon is capable of seizing one on the wing and carrying it away, and that it would 

 have no difficulty whatever in doing so with the smaller common sorts of pigeons. The sound of a 

 Falcon striking a pigeon is somewhat startling, and it always reminds me of a dog jumping through 



