HAUNTS OF THE FALCON. 
133 
suddenly he quits his post, and dashes arrow-like into the heart of the 
grove, pounces upon the nearest victim, and disappears as quickly as he 
came. But it is some time before the little society recovers from its 
panic, and resumes its previous avocations. 
FALCONS AND FALCONRY. 
Sir J. Richardson records that, in his journey across the desolate 
wildernesses which lie between Canada and the shores of the Frozen 
Sea, he was attacked by a pair of gyrfalcons, while climbing in the 
neighbourhood of their nest, which was situated on a precipitous cliff 
rising sheer from the waters of Point Lake, in lat. 65° 30' N. They 
flew in circles, screaming loudly and harshly, and alternately swooping 
downwards with such velocity that their motion through the air pro- 
duced a loud rushing sound. They struck their claws within an inch 
or two of the adventurer's head. By keeping the barrel of his gun 
close to his cheek, and suddenly raising its muzzle when they were in 
the act of striking, he sought to ascertain whether they had the power 
of instantaneously changing the direction of their swift flight ; and he 
found that they invariably rose above the obstacle with the quickness 
of thought, showing equal sharpness of vision and power of motion. 
It is among the dreary precipices and wind-swept cliffs that these birds 
delight to dwell ; within hearing of the roar of the waters which beat 
against the icy walls of Iceland and Greenland, and within reach of the 
sea-birds which supply them with food. A hundred feet from the 
base of the rocks they build their nest ; and from this elevated post 
they sweep their glance far and wide over the dark-rolling main. 
Audubon tells us that while hunting in Labrador he frequently saw 
these birds ranging high in the air over an island where multitudes of 
pufl&ns were breeding. On several occasions he watched them descend 
"like a streak of lightning," pounce on a victim, and carry it off in 
their talons. Their aerial course resembled that of the peregrine 
falcon, but was more rapid, elevated, and majestic. They rarely 
sailed when travelling to and fro, but used a constant beat of their 
wings. When high in the air above the hapless puffins, they would 
hover almost motionless, as if watching for the proper moment to close 
9 A 
