HOW PEREGRINES STRIKE THEIR PREY 143 
is, I believe, universally held by falconers, who 
after all have many more opportunities of seeing 
how it is done than any other class of men. I 
have frequently discussed this question with 
naturalists and stalkers, keepers and others 
interested in this subject, and have listened to 
all they could tell me. I have also had the great 
advantage of hearing at first hand from falconers 
of experience their views and their reasons for 
them. Further, I have myself been so fortunate 
as to see the wild peregrine pursue and stoop at 
its quarry. I have seen it strike and kill it and 
on occasion miss it. In addition to this, I have 
read everything I could find on this subject, both 
in the older and more modern books of authority. 
I am satisfied myself that the view held by the 
falconers is the true one, and I cannot state their 
conclusions better than, or indeed so well as, 
by quoting from three letters that I have received. 
The writers of these three letters have kindly 
given me permission to quote their views. 
Major C. E. Radclyffe, who has had almost 
unrivalled experience as a falconer, writes as 
follows : 
" All forms of falcons and short - winged 
hawks, such as sparrow-hawks and goshawks. 
