PETREL. 
361 
head and upper part of the neck with her talons, which instantly 
broug-ht him to the ground. Now the unequal contest was soon deter- 
mined ; for in vain did the superior weight and strength of the heron 
drag and flounder with his enemy across the floor ; in vain did he flap 
his unwieldy pinions to shake off the tyrant of the air ; nor could even 
his gigantic legs force her from the bloody grasp ; her work was short, 
and certain ; no efforts could compel her now to quit her deadly gripe ; 
the powerful, and only dreaded arms of her antagonist were secured, 
and thus disarmed, he became a sure and easy prey. Scarcely was the 
gigantic bird prostrate on the ground, than death ensued ; for in this 
noble race, destined for blood and slaughter, torture makes no part of 
its nature, but, like what we are told of the generous lion, exulting in 
death, but disdaining cruelty ; in less than half a minute did the Falcon 
tear out the gullet and windpipe of the heron, and regale on the head 
and neck. 
Wilson informs us, that the American bird of this species retires, 
during the breeding season, to the gloomy recesses and swamps of the 
cedar forests, in the tall trees of which it constructs its nest, and rears 
its young secure from molestation. In these wilds, almost impene- 
trable to the foot of man, its screams are occasionally heard mingling 
with the hoarse tones of the heron, and the hooting of the eagle owl.* 
In this respect and several others, the American duck hawk seems to 
differ from our Peregrine Falcon. The anecdotes related of the dexte- 
rity and prowess of this noble bird, are innumerable; a writer, in a 
popular periodical, describes one pursuing a razorbill, which, instead of 
assaulting as usual, with the death pounce from the beak, he seized by the 
head with both his claws, and made towards the land, his prisoner croak- 
ing, screaming, and struggling lustily ; but being a heavy bird, he so far 
overbalanced the aggressor, that both descended fast towards the sea, 
when, just as they touched the water, the Falcon let go his hold and 
ascended, the razorbill as instantaneously diving below. The nest is 
generally placed upon the shelf of a rock, in which the bird lays four 
or five eggs of a reddish brown colour, a little blotched and variegated. 
PERNIS (Cuvier.) — *A genus thus characterised. Bill of middle 
length ; lore covered with serrated feathers ; shanks of middle length and 
half feathered ; shins reticulated ; the third quill the longest in the wing.* 
PETREL (^TJialassidroma pelagica, Vigors.) 
Procellaria pelagica, Linn. Syst. 1. p. 212. — Gme/. Syst. 2. p. 561 Lath. Ind. 
Orn. 2. p. 826. 19. — Briss. 6. p. 140. 1. 1 . 13. f. 1. — lb. 8vo. 2. p. 398 Flem. 
Br. Anim. p. 135. — Vigors, Zool. Journ. 2. p. 405. — Temm. Man. d’Orn. 2. p. 
811. — Oiseau de tempete, Buff. Ois. 9. p. 327. t. 23. — Stormfinch, Will. p. 306. 
— 1&. (Angl.) p. 395. — Stormy Petrel, Br. Zool. 2. No. 259. t. 91 . — //?. fol. 
146. t. L. 5.— Arct. Zool. 2. No. 464.— Eda;. t. 90.— Albin, 3. t. 92.— Borlas. 
