360 



PEREGRINE FALCON. 



only point where it can secure a prompt and decisive victory. Even 

 when a bird of inferior size is given, although it may seize the whole 

 body in its talons, the operations of nature are so invariable, that the 

 head is first cracked, and perhaps eaten, before the body is touched. It 

 is contrary to the nature of these birds to attack their prey on the 

 ground, or to get in contact with a large bird, it is indeed only on the 

 wing that their powers can be properly estimated. 



A yearling female in Colonel Montagu's possession, which had never 

 enjoyed its native habits of destruction, having been taken before she 

 could fly, and had never been much used to slaughter, except with an 

 occasional small bird, was suffered to be a whole day without food, at the 

 expiration of which an old male heron was introduced into the room 

 where the Falcon was at liberty, the point of the heron's bill having 

 been previously sawed off. As soon as the heron was in motion, the 

 Falcon, who was also deprived of the means of flight, took post on a 

 stool which was at one end of the room ; and as the heron, regardless 

 of his enemy, traversed the apartment, the Falcon motionless, kept her 

 eyes fixed on her destined prey, till after several turns round the room, 

 she judged the heron was sufficiently near to effect her purpose, when 

 she sprang at the head, intending to seize that part with her talons. 

 In this however she failed, the stool not having given her sufficient 

 elevation to reach the high-erected head of the heron. This failure 

 might probably have cost the Falcon her life, had the bill of her 

 antagonist been perfect; for she received a blow on the body, that 

 must otherwise have inflicted a severe if not a mortal wound, from so 

 pointed an instrument, urged with such power. Baffled in this attempt, 

 and having received a severe blow, it was conjectured no further attack 

 would be made until the calls of hunger became more urgent. The 

 Falcon, however, soon regained her station, and it was not long before 

 we perceived the heron, regardless of his foe, again pass very near, 

 when the Falcon, in a second attempt to seize her prey as before, was 

 equally foiled, and again received a severe check from the bill of the 

 heron. Finding her efforts had failed for want of the advantage nature 

 had assigned her, instinct directed the Falcon to a box that stood on 

 the opposite side of the room, which was somewhat higher. Here she 

 again seemed to meditate another attack, by watching every motion of 

 the heron, who continued his rounds with a view to make his escape ; 

 and it was not long before an opportunity offered for Falco to make an 

 assault from her more elevated station. Here she had found an humble 

 substitute for those powers with which nature had so amply furnished 

 her, but of which she had been deprived, and at last succeeded in 

 springing from her perch, and seizing the unfortunate heron by the 



