252 
GREAT-FOOTED HAWK. 
interesting by the wonderful stories which we heard of its ex- 
ploits in fowling, and of its daring enterprise. There was not 
ing in their carriage, the falcons are as much distinguished from the vultures by 
their graceful proportions, “ as those of the lion place him in the ranks of crea- 
tion above the gaunt, ravenous, grisly, yet dastard vrolf.” Placed, by their strong 
and powerful frames, far beyond them in all rapacious powers, they feed nearly 
exclusively on living prey, despising all upon which they have not themselves 
acted as executioners, and particularly any carrion, which has the least savour of 
beginning putrescence. For these purposes they are possessed with a compactly- 
formed bodj’’, the neck comparatively short, and supported by muscles of more 
than ordinary strength ; the feet and thighs remarkably powerful, and the wings 
of that true hirundine form and texture which points out the greater develope* 
ment of their power. The prey is generally struck while upon the wing with a 
rapid sweep, and is at once borne off, unless completely above the weight of the 
assailer, when it is struck to the gi’ound, and dispatched at more leisure. 
The peregrine falcon has a considerable geographical range, extending over the 
whole of temperate Europe, North America, and New Holland. The speci- 
mens from the latter country, I may remark, are all smaller in size, but hardly 
any other distinction can be fixed upon. In Britain, it is abundant on all the 
rocky coasts towards the north, breeding and frequenting the precipitous head- 
lands; in many districts inland it is also frequent, but the choice of them is 
more arbitrai*y and local. The vale of Moffat, in Dumfries-shire, is one of 
the most favourite stations I am aware of ; many pairs breed there, and on the 
confines of Selkirkshire, choosing their eyries among the precipitous cliffs and 
streams of that mountainous district ; they return to the same rock year after 
year, and often fix upon the same nest for their breeding-place. When either of 
the birds are killed, a mate is speedily found by the survivor, and returns with 
him to the old abode, and some of the eyries there have been known, and handed 
down to recollection, as far as the annals of the district extend. The Bass rock, 
and Isle of May in the Frith of Forth, each possess a pair long renowned in 
deeds of falconry, and the Isle of Man can boast of many a noble bird, whose 
ancestors have joined in that now nearly-forgotten sport. I am aware of no 
instance in this country where the peregrine builds on trees, as mentioned by 
Ord, in America ; nor does it seem its true habit there. Dr Richardson remai'ks, 
that it is a rare bird in the wooded districts of the fur countries, and the greater 
part of the specimens v/hich have reached this country have been procured upon 
the coast. 
To the American falcons may be added the merlin F, esalon, which, was met 
with by Dr Richardson, who thinks it has been there confounded, from its si- 
milarity in some states, with the pigeon hawk. We may also mention a bird de- 
scribed by Mr Audubon as new, under the name of F. temerarius^ but which 
appears nothing more than the adult plumage of F. columbarius . — Ed. 
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