THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 

 Falco pertgrinus, Tun stall. 

 Plate 37. 



The Peregrine Falcon still retains its old eyries in many parts of our islands, 

 and though by no means common, is perhaps more numerous than our other large 

 birds of prey, and in relation to its size is without doubt the most daring and 

 fearless of them all. In ancient times, when, as now, its high courage, hardy 

 constitution, and docility were greatly valued by falconers, its breeding-places 

 were much more numerous and strictly guarded. During autumn a good many 

 Peregrines, mostly birds of the year, known as " Passage Hawks," reach our 

 country from abroad, usually following the hosts of migrating ducks from more 

 northerly regions, and many of them take possession of a hunting ground and 

 stay for the winter. As a resident or migrant the Peregrine is well known all 

 over Europe from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, within the area of which 

 there resides a smaller form known as F. pimicus ; and, admitting different 

 subspecies, it may be said to have a world-wide distribution. 



The eyrie, often the former home of some other bird, is usually situated on 

 some steep rocky cliff, either overhanging the sea or inland, while it is occasionally 

 placed in trees. The same station — for the nest is merely a hollow scratched out 

 on the earth-covered shelf, and surrounded by bones and castings — is often 

 occupied for many successive years, even in some cases used by succeeding 

 generations of Falcons for centuries ; and if at any time one of the pair be 

 destroyed, the survivor seems to have no difficulty in quickly obtaining another 

 mate. The eggs are usually three or four in number, and vary in colour, some 

 closely freckled with rich orange-brown, others with deep brick-red. 



In hawking language the female is always known as the Falcon ; the male, 



from his smaller size — considered as one-third less — being called the " Tercel " 



or " Tiercel." At the present time this noble form of sport, far from being extinct, 



is still carried on in various parts of the country where the open nature of the 



ground allows it to be practised with success. 



The food of the Peregrine consists chiefly of waterfowl — including on occasions 



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