life I have seen many changes, socially and politically, 
but none of these changes have been greater than 
what has overtaken this family of birds. However, 
in saying what little has been left to say on the sub¬ 
ject, I p!ropose to give the common divisions of the 
falcon family—namely, the nohle and the ignoble. 
The first of these consists of the falcons-proper, known 
by the size of the tooth in the mandible, and by the 
strength, length, and pointedness of their wings. 
Although small compared with others of the family, 
they are strong in flight, and can pursue and capture 
their prey while on the wing. The birds of this 
division were anciently ta;med and used in the sport 
of falconry. The ignoble division includes the eagles, 
which rank next to the falcons, and are large and 
powerful; and, in the case of the golden eagle and 
rough-legged buzzard, distinguished by having the 
feet feathered to the toes, I shall begin with the 
falcons-proper, and with 
1st, Falco peregrinus^ the Peregrine Falcon.—^^This 
bird is less than the Gyr or Iceland falcon, but is the 
largest of the tribe to be found in this country. Its 
length is 18 inches, breadth of wings, 3 feet 6 inches 
in the female, and weight above 2 lbs. The general 
colour is a bluish grey on the back, more or less 
clouded, and marred with dark browm. The breast 
is of a dull white, beautifully dotted and barred with 
dark brown spots. The peregrine preys on most 
birds, and even on small quadrupeds. It builds on 
rocky cliffs and precipices, laying three or four 
roundish eggs of reddish browm, dotted and patched 
with darker spots. This falcon used to build 
regularly in Kinnoull rocks, but of late years I have 
not heard of its nesting there, and it is becoming fast 
extinct in this country. It is still to be found, how¬ 
ever, in the northern parts of the county. A late 
keeper on the Kinfauns estate told me that he 
frequently shot this bird, and he found that the 
surviving partner, after absenting itself for a few 
days, invariably returned with another mate along 
with which it bred and carried through the work of 
the season. I am not aw'are of this trait of character 
in any other bird. 
