THE PEREGRINE PAL CON. 
lake, — escaped, in consequence of the flock from which it came, 
or a similar number of birds, appearing in sight, when its 
persecutor betook himself after them. He very soon had one 
of this flock also in the water, and enacted just the same part 
towards it as he had done towards the other. It was put 
down to the lake at least a dozen times, and along a great 
extent of its surface, once between the boats of the fishing 
party, not more than about fifty yards distant from each other. 
The hawk and curlew were both several times within about 
twenty yards of the boats, and once, indeed, the latter, closely 
pursued, took the water just before the bow of one of them. 
Eventually the tercel left off the chase, though, as in the 
former instance, the curlew was nearly worn out. The poor 
bird, now seeing two of its species come in sight, joined them, 
and they all went off safely in company. The chase was 
continued so long, that two of my friends, whose taste inclined 
more to fishing than to hawking, resumed their avocation, 
though, as sportsmen, highly enjoying the chase at first ; but 
the third, who communicated the circumstance, possessing 
trained falcons himself, witnessed it to the last, and described 
the sweeps made by the wild bird as bolder, and its flight 
certainly more swift, than that of any trained one he had ever 
seen.” 
Concerning the peregrine falcon in America, "Wilson, in his 
“ American Ornithology,” gives some interesting information. 
He says : — “ This noble bird had excited our curiosity for a 
long time. Every visit which we made to the coast was 
rendered doubly interesting by wonderful stories which we 
heard of its exploits in fowling, and of its daring enterprise. 
There was not a gunner along the shore but knew it well; and 
each could relate something of it, which bordered on the mar- 
vellous. It was described as darting with the rapidity of an 
arrow on the ducks when on the wing, and striking thrnn down 
with the projecting bone of its breast. *#*#*## 
If we were to repeat all the anecdotes which have been related 
to us of the achievements of the duck-hawk, they would swell 
our pages at the expense, probably, of our reputation. * * * 
From the best sources of information, we learn that this species 
is uncommonly bold and powerful; that it darts on its prey 
with astonishing velocity; and that it strikes with its formi- 
dable feet, permitting the duck to fall previously to securing 
it. The circumstance of the hawk’s never carrying the duck 
off on striking it, has given rise to the belief of that service 
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