206 Birds. 
country. It is found, more or less abundantly, through- 
out the whole of Europe, principally in the mountain 
districts in North and South America, dwelling 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 species, and some- 
times 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 descent as it flies 
through the air, bear it downwards by the united im- 
pulse 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 predatory 
animals, they are stimulated to action by the pressure of 
hunger alone, and remain inactive and almost motionless 
while the process of digestion is going on, until the re- 
newed cravings of their appetite stimulate them to fur- 
ther exertion. In different stages of its growth, the Pere- 
grine Falcon has been known by various English names. 
Its proper appellation among falconers is the Slight 
Falcon, the term Falcon Gentle being equally applicable 
to all the species when rendered manageable. In the im- 
mature state, this Falcon is also called a Eed Hawk, from 
the prevailing colour of its plumage. The male is called 
a Tiercel, to distinguish it from the female, which, in the 
Falcon tribe, is commonly one-third larger than the male. 
In China there is said to be a variety, which is mottled 
with brown and yellow, and used by the emperor of China 
in his sporting excursions, when he is usually attended 
by his great falconer, and a thousand of inferior rank. 
Every bird has a silver plate fastened to its foot, with 
the name of the falconer who has the charge of it, that, 
in case it should be lost, it may be restored to the proper 
person ; but if it should not be found, the name is deli- 
vered to another officer, called the guardian of lost birds, 
who, to make his situation known, erects his standard in 
a conspicuous place among the army of hunters. 
In Syria there is a species of Falcon, which the in- 
