168 A DESCRIPTION OF 
most intrepid of all voracious birds, and is the dearest 
and most esteemed for falconry. The bill is crooked and 
yellow ; the irides of the eye dusky ; and the whole 
plumage of a whitish hue, marked with dark lines on the 
breast, and dusky spots on the back. 
The Peregrine Falcon, which is the most common kind, 
is as large as the moor buzzard. The bill is blue at the 
base, and black at the point; the head, back, scapulars, 
and coverts of tlie wings are barred with deep black and 
blue ; the throat, neck, and upper part of the breast are 
white, tinged with yellow ; the bottom of the breast, 
belly, and thighs are of a greyish white ; arid the tail is 
black and blue. Wilson enumerates no less than ten 
varieties, dependent chiefly upon age, sex, and country. 
It is found, more or less abundantly, throughout the whole 
of Europe, principally in the mountain districts in North, 
and probably South America, and in New Holland, dwell- 
ing in the clefts of rocks, especially such as are exposed 
to the mid-day sun. It breeds upon the cliffs in several 
parts of England, but appears to be more common in 
Scotland and Wales. Its food consists principally of 
small birds ; but it scruples not to attack the larger spe- 
cies, and sometimes gives battle even to the kite. Falcons 
rarely take their prey upon the ground, like the more 
ignoble birds of the class to which they belong; but 
pounce upon it from aloft, in a directly perpendicular de- 
scent as it flies through the air, bear it downwards by the 
united impulse of the strength and rapidity of their 
attack, and sticking their talons into its flesh, carry it off 
in triumph to the place of their retreat. Like most pre- 
datory animals, they are stimulated to action by the pres- 
sure of hunger alone, and remain inactive and almost 
motionless while the process of digestion is going on, and 
until the renewed cravings of their appetite stimulate 
them to further exertion. In different stages of its growth, 
the Peregrine Falcon has been known by various English 
