GREAT FOOTED HAWK. 
51 
SUBGENUS IV. FALCO BECHSTEIN. 
7. FALCO PEREGRIN U S, WILSON GREAT FOOTED HAWK, OR 
PEREGRINE FALCON.* 
WILSON, PLATE LXXVI EDINBURGH COLLEGE MUSEUM. 
This noble bird had excited our curiosity for a long 
time. Every visit which we made to the coast, was 
rendered doubly interesting by the wonderful stories 
which we heard of its exploits in fowling, and of its 
daring enterprize. There was not a gunner along the 
shore but knew it well ; and each could relate some- 
thing of it which bordered on the marvellous. It was 
described as darting with the rapidity of an arrow on 
the ducks when on the wing, and striking them down 
with the projecting bone of its breast. . Even the wild 
geese were said to be in danger from its attacks, it 
having been known to sacrifice them to its rapacity. 
To behold this hero, the terror of the wild fowl, and 
the wonder of the sportsman, was the chief object of 
our wishes. Day after day did we traverse the salt 
marshes, and explore the ponds and estuaries which 
the web-footed tribes frequent in immense multitudes, 
in the hope of obtaining the imperial depredator ; even 
all the gunners of the district were summoned to our 
aid, with the assurance of a great reward if they 
procured him, but without success. At length, in the 
month of December, 1812, to the unspeakable joy of 
Mr Wilson, he received from Egg Harbour a fine 
specimen of the far famed duck hawk ; which was 
discovered, contrary to his expectations, to be of a 
species which he had never before beheld. 
If we were to repeat all the anecdotes which have 
It is also a European species. 
