PEREGRINE FALCON. 



FALCO PEREGRINUS, Tunstall 



Falco peregrinus, Tunstall, Ornith. Brit. p. 1 (1771) ; Nauru. 

 i. p. 285; Macff. iii. p. 294; Hewitson, i. p. 24; Yarr. 

 ed. 4, i. p. 53; Dresser, vi. p. 31. 



Faucon commun, Faucon pelerin, French ; Wanderfalke, 

 German ; Halcon, Halcon real, Spanish. 



This most noble of birds, although ruthlessly per- 

 secuted by game-preservers in many districts, still 

 breeds annually on various parts of the coasts of the 

 three kingdoms and their adjacent islands, as well as 

 in some inland localities, but in most of our English 

 counties is best known as an autumnal visitor, generally 

 following the annual southward migration of Wild-fowl 

 and Wood-Pigeons, and frequently, if not molested, 

 remaining during the winter and late into the spring 

 in places that afford a sufficiency of prey and facilities 

 for the capture thereof. 



I suppose that it would be a hopeless task to attempt 

 to explain to any but those few who love sport in its 

 higher sense for its own sake, the feeling that falconers 

 entertain for the Peregrine, hallowed to them as she is 

 by tradition of ages, and their most " generous " and 



