360 
PEREGRINE FALCON. 
only point where it can secure a prompt and decisive victory. Even 
when a bird of inferior size is g’iven, 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 
