STRIKE OF THE FALCON. 105 



with the motion of the earth on its axis, even at the 

 equator, where it is about a thousand miles an hour, 

 and outstrip it by much in her own northern latitudes. 



Hard as are the bones, and tough as are the tendons 

 and ligaments in the foot of the jer-falcon, they could 

 not hold directly against so terrible a rush as this ; and 

 were she to strike against a solid and fixed substance, she 

 would be dashed to pieces by her own velocity — would 

 perish through the very excess of her own strength. 



But this violent motion of the falcon, the circum- 

 stances under which it is exerted, and the organisation 

 by means of which it is performed, are all admirably 

 adapted to each other. The stroke of the falcon, 

 unlike the spring of the beasts of prey, or even the 

 stoop of the eagle, and the other predatory birds 

 which kill their prey upon the ground, does not, in 

 itself, arrest the violence of her motion ; for when 

 she misses, if she hawks at flocking birds, as she 

 often does, she dashes onwards, and strikes again ; 

 whereas the lion and the tiger must pause and crouch 

 before they can take a second spring, and the eagle 

 must regain her height before she make a second 

 stoop. Thus the prey of these animals, if not cap- 

 tured at the first attempt, has a chance of escape 

 much greater than the prey of the jer-falcon. 



When we consider the circumstances under which 

 this gallant bird strikes, and the force of the stroke, 

 which is sufficient to fracture a wing, sever a head, 

 or crush the chest and burst open the body of a 

 bird, we can easily see that the great velocity of 

 the rush is necessary for effecting the natural purpose 

 of the bird ; and that, though the jer-falcon would 

 probably dash herself to pieces were she to exert all 

 her energy in preying anywhere else than in the free 

 air, yet she is exactly the bird, above all others, for 



