HOW PEREGRINES STRIKE THEIR PREY 149 
game hawks catch grouse or partridges. When 
struck, the blow is deUvered on any part of the 
body — it may be the head and it may be the back 
or the wing which may be broken." 
In Reminiscences of a Falconer (John Nimmo, 
London, 1901) Major C. H. Fisher writes : 
" Tlie blow is given by the falcon's strong and 
sharp hind talon of each foot — usually sharp as a 
needle and driven at great speed by a bird weigh- 
ing over 2 lb." 
As illustrating the falcon's stoop Major Fisher 
describes how he saw a wild falcon strike a grey- 
hen twice. He says (p. 97) : 
" As illustrating the force of a falcon's stoop, 
I may mention an incident which occurred to me 
on the banks of the river Orrin when fishing. 
From some bracken I put up three greyhens. 
Down came a wild falcon from the sky at the 
middle bird. I saw and heard the blow. The 
greyhen staggered on, leaving the usual tribute of 
feathers behind her. Up rose the falcon in the 
grand and stately style so few trained hawks can 
ever adopt or regain (so much do they lose by 
captivity) ; over and down she came, and down 
fell the quarry, as dead as though shot by a bullet. 
. . . Down too went my long rod and off went I. 
