152 AMID THE HIGH HILLS 
closing over the fore talons, thus forming a kind 
of keel — and the bone on the back of the grouse 
is strong enough to prevent more than a severe 
bruise. 
Mr. Speedy continues : 
"It is argued that it is impossible the bird 
could be killed by a blow from a hawk's wing, as 
the wing would certainly be injured. I have seen 
a retriever stunned by a blow from the wing of 
a swan, and but for my being in close proximity 
in a boat it would certainly have been drowned. 
Those who have put their hand into the nest of 
a wood-pigeon are familiar with the blow even a 
half-fledged bird can give with its wing. I have 
been struck with the fight a wounded wild goose 
can put up, and the blows it can inflict on a 
retriever with its powerful wings." 
But, with all respect, surely the blow of a 
large powerful bird like a swan or a goose delivered 
in this way is a very different thing to the blow 
which is delivered by a peregrine when stooping 
at its quarry at the terrific speed with which it 
then flies, and, in my opinion, the view taken by 
experienced falconers, such as those quoted above, 
that the wing would most certainly be broken or 
badly injured, is the correct one. 
