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their very existence demands that they should be swifter on the 
wing than the birds on which they prey — are the falcons. An 
eagle in the Pyrenees, Bishop Stanley tells us, was timed crossing 
a valley, and found to be going little short of 140 miles an hour. 
Audubon says, “ the fishing eagle of America dashes down upon 
its prey with such rapidity as to cause a rushing sound like a 
violent gust of wind amongst trees, and that its fall can scarcely 
he followed by the eye.” In the Field, for March 10th, 1866, 
Mr. W. J. Strickland says, “ I have not the slightest hesitation in 
saying that I believe the peregrine falcon is capable of attaining a 
speed of from 150 to 160 miles an hour. Let those who are 
incredulous draw their conclusions from actual observation, and not 
from what they consider possible. Certainly, I never saw any 
object move with such intense velocity through the air as the jDere- 
grine in his death rush, and the depth with which the body of the 
pigeon or partridge is frequently ripped up, strongly corroborates 
tlie impression which my sight has conveyed.” “ Peregrine,” well- 
known in the Naturalists’ column of the Field, writing on the 
same subject, thus concludes: — “And yet 150 or 160 miles an 
hour, or rather at that rate, is a wonderful pace ; and it is difficult 
to conceive any creature with lungs, living through it. Think of 
the express as it flashes by the station, with just a clatter and con- 
fusion of windows ! It is gone ; but its pace is not half that 
which we have just given to the peregrine. And to much more 
than DOUBLE the speed of the express ! Very well ; but I can 
hardly as yet believe in anything faster than 150 miles an hour. 
In that, however, I do believe.” Difficult as it may be to ascer- 
tain the exact speed Avith Avhich birds wing their Avay through the 
air, there can be ho doubt that they are capable of attaining an 
immense velocity, and I do not think “ Peregrine” has over-rated 
tlie flight of his favourite falcon. 
This power of passing Avith ease and rapidity OAmr long distances 
is of vast importance to birds living in communities ; rooks for 
instance A\muld soon exhaust the supply of food in their OAvn 
neighbourhood, Ave find therefore AAdiere they muster strong tliey 
always go some miles from their homo to feed. Herons go long 
distances in search of food, and these birds, as Avell as rooks may 
be seen high in the air returning to their roosting places, their lofty 
flight and direct course indicating the journey to be a long one 
