interest, since it affords us an insight into the natural habits and economy of this destructive though noble 
bird; at the same time it must be admitted that this trait in its character, that of killing in mere wan- 
tonness or sport, is not commendable. Independently of Ducks, Coots, and Moor-bens, many other birds 
fall to the powerful stroke of the Peregrine’s hind claw, such as Grouse, Partridges, Plovers, Pigeons, &c. 
When used in falconry, it is flown at Herons, Crows, and other birds of equal magnitude ; but as these are 
usually victims selected by the falconer, any details respecting its prowess in these cases would be somewhat 
out of place in a memoir on its natural history ; but I may mention that there is no bird which is more 
easily tamed or rendered subservient to the desires of man, nor one that becomes more docile ; for not only 
will it, at his will, pursue the quarry until it becomes a mere speck in the heavens, but from that altitude 
will respond to his lure and immediately descend, to be fed, and blinded by its stiff and uncomfortable hood ; 
the cravings of its appetite appeased, it sits content on its accustomed block of wood, or rides with equal 
patience on the hand of the falconer or its “ faire ladye.” 
The whole structure of the Peregrine is admirably adapted for aerial progression, its powerful pectoral 
muscles, unparalleled among birds of its size, together with its long and pointed wings, enabling it ordinarily 
to pass through the air with a rapidity estimated by some writers at the rate of 150 miles an hour; but this 
rate of progression is as nothing compared with the impetuosity of its stoop when descending upon its 
quarry. Wonderful indeed is the rapidity with which this winged thundei'bolt descends from aloft on any 
bird which may unwittingly pass beneath the rock or mountain escarpment upon which it has been reposing. 
Such a stoop as this I once witnessed in the Highlands. A flight of Ducks, which I had driven across 
the moor, caught the piercing eye of a Peregrine seated on a high rock about a mile distant. Down he 
came with meteor-like swiftness, when the Ducks, as if aware that it was their only chance of safety, 
doubled at once in the direction of the water they had left, both Ducks and Peregrine passing immediately 
over my head with the quickness of lightning and a rushing sound not easily to be described. Such a 
momentary scene as this can only be understood by those who have witnessed it ; Mr. Wolf has endea- 
voured to convey some idea of it in the accompanying illustration. It will be seen that a Mallard has been 
struck dead, its back being ripped open by a stroke of tbe Peregrine’s hind claw — a mode of striking in 
the air which I believe it always adopts. If perchance its aim should not be certain and effective, the 
Falcon usually mounts gracefully, sulkily seats itself on some neighbouring rock or tree, and patiently 
awaits another opportunity for repeating the same manoeuvre. During my travels over the plains of 
Australia, Falcons frequently followed me for days together, on the chance of my raising a quail or other 
bird ; and many fine stoops have I there witnessed. 
Before leaving this part of the bird’s economy, I may mention a remarkable stoop witnessed by my friend 
John Fowler, Esq., while shooting in Scotland. A small pack of Grouse being flushed, they descended to 
cross one of the deep gorges between the hills of the upper Findhorn, when a Peregrine, which had been 
quietly seated on a neighbouring blgh rock far above the birds, immediately gave cbase, and almost with 
the quickness of thought was down upon his bird, and bore it away in his talons in face of the spectators 
above him. The consternation this sudden attack produced, not only in the pack of birds alluded to, but 
among all the Grouse on the hill-side, was such, that Mr. Fowler had excellent shooting for the next hour, 
whereas before the Grouse laid so badly that he could get no sport. 
Few birds differ more in the size of the sexes than the Peregrine, and I have been very careful in ascertain- 
ing the relative weight of each whenever an opportunity offered ; in this respect I have been most kindly 
aided by Mr. Benjamin Leadbeater, of Brewer Street, London, who has always submitted to my inspection 
any freshly killed specimens that have been sent to him ; and I should be wanting in eourtesy were I not to 
state that not only in this but in many other instanees has Mr. Leadbeater been most obliging to me. 
The average weight of several females was 2 lbs. 5 t ozs. ; and the total length 19 inches, of the wing 14^, 
of the tail 7fj of the tarsi 21, and of the middle toe and nail 21. There is no difference in the colour 
aud markings of the male, of sufficient Importance to be noticed. The average weight is lib. 7ozs., and 
the total length 16 inches. 
The Peregrine breeds in April and May. The nest is usually placed upon the shelf of a rock, or near 
the top of a lofty tree ; it is composed of sticks, sea-weed, hair, and other materials. The eggs are two or 
three in number, somewhat round in form, and of a deep russet-red, blotched and lined with a deeper hue. 
The accompanying Illustration represents an adult female about three-fourths of the natural size. It will 
be seen that the back is of a nearly uniform deep-blue grey, while the feathers of the abdomen and flanks 
are bufly white, barred with blue-grey. The young of the year is very differently marked, — all the upper 
surface being slaty broum, with a rufous border to eaeb feather ; the tail dark grey, crossed by five rows of 
sandy-buff spots assuming on tbe inner Avebs the form of bars ; tbe breast aud abdomen buffy Avhite, with 
a broad longitudinal stripe of dark broAvn doAvn the centre of every feather ; the axillaries, too, which are 
regularly barred in the adult, are marked on each web with large spots of buffy white. This plumage is 
carried to the first moult, when it is exchanged for that of the adult. 
