PEREGRINE FALCON 
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PEREGRINE FALCON. 
{Falco peregrinus.) 
Hunting Hawk, Goshawk. — This strong, keen 
falcon is still not very uncommon, though rarer 
than the Buzzard, in many of the inland moun- 
tainous districts of the kingdom, as well as on 
high sea-cliffs even in the south and south-east of 
England. It is distinctly smaller than the Buzzard, 
its wings are much more pointed, and its flight is 
more swift and active. It is also quite different 
in colour, being dark, barred slate-grey above, 
with a white breast, spotted and streaked with 
black. The immature young, however, are mottled 
brown above, and yellowish-brown with darker 
streaks beneath. Its activity and strength enable 
it to prey upon much larger birds than most of 
our other Hawks, and it captures Grouse, Part- 
ridges, and Rooks, as well as Gulls, and many 
smaller species. It will also seize rabbits ; and 
it was, and is, the chief Hawk used in hawking, in 
which sport the male is called the Tiercel, and the 
female, which is considerably larger, the Falcon. 
The Peregrine breeds both in rocks and cliffs, and 
in trees ; in the latter situation it lays its eggs in 
some old nest, such as a Crow's, and it will also 
utilise a Crow's nest when it is built in a suitable 
