HOW PEREGRINES STRIKE THEIR PREY 153 
Finally, Mr. Speedy says : 
" When a falcon strikes a bird in the air there 
is a loud ' clap ' whieh I have heard several 
hundj-ed yards away. This would not be the 
case if struck by the talons." 
I venture to think, however, that the argu- 
ment based on the sound caused by the impact 
carries Mr. Speedy's contention no further. 
Would not this loud " clap " naturally be expected 
if the peregrine struck its quarry in the manner 
described ? 
In conclusion, then, what is the correct view of 
the matter ? In the words of a recent writer : ^ 
" The truth . . . seems to be that the falcon 
shuts its feet when stooping, the hind talon on 
each foot closing over the fore talons, thus 
forming a kind of keel. When the falcon strikes 
a grouse, the latter may be partially or wholly 
decapitated, or it may be severely bruised on the 
back. The neck of a grouse is soft, and the 
' keel ' of a peregrine's hind talon is sufficiently 
sharp to cut it, whereas on the back of a grouse 
the bone is strong enough to prevent more than 
a severe bruise. The shock of impact must, 
^ Rough Shooting, by Richard Clapham, ch. vii. pp. 125-126. Heath 
Cranton, Ltd., London, 1922. 
20 
