THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 
41 
being prepared for them, a “ flight ” ensued, which ended by 
its killing one. It struck the partridge near the ground. The 
same swoop with which the victim was felled, carried the hawk 
boldly and gracefully high into the air. Had the peregrine falcon 
not this admirable faculty of sweeping upwards, from the stoop 
made at its victim when near the ground, the extreme velocity of 
flight would be the means of its destruction, as, missing the quarry, it 
would be dashed against the earth. A few days afterwards, this hawk 
bore us company to the field, and there was a short but good flight 
at an old partridge, which was killed. When struck, it fell in cover, 
close to a mountain-stream ; the hawk alighted on a stone- dyke at 
the opposite side, and there awaited for many minutes its master’s 
coming up, when the u quarry ” was obtained. The hawk 
“making to bathe,” it was feared that the sport was over, but she 
was prevented doing so. The bad effect of bathing is the wetting 
of the plumage, which greatly impedes the flight. 
Woodcocks have always afforded the best flights with these 
birds ; and in hawking, I have often witnessed that singular trait 
in their character, of leaving their quarry the moment it takes to 
cover .* In this way I recollect what promised to be a good chase, 
being at once terminated by the woodcock’s descent close to a pub- 
lic road, and as it could not again be sprung, another had to be 
sought for. When returning home, however, about six hours 
afterwards, a woodcock was raised from the base of a hedge at 
the road-side, where the bird had been lost in the morning. It 
was doubtless the same individual, as, unless pursued, such a 
place of refuge would certainly not have been chosen. Here, in all 
probability, this bird, had remained during the day, though many 
persons must have passed on the footway within a yard of it, but 
until coming under our notice, it may not have recovered from 
the fright. On one occasion, a woodcock caught merely (not 
struck), by a trained falcon of Mr. Sinclaire’s, was carried across 
a ravine, and a few minutes had elapsed before the falconer could 
* Mr. Sinclaire’s best falcon pursued woodcocks into dense cover, the first year, so 
that it was difficult to get her out with safety to her plumage. His falcons, or 
female birds, which are more savage than the males, generally did this the first year, 
but very rarely afterwards. 
