154 AMID THE HIGH HILLS 
however, be tremendous, for a bird so struck 
hurtles to the ground at once. When the pere- 
grine strikes, one hears a loud ' clap ' audible at 
a considerable distance, and it is this noise that 
has given rise to the theory that the falcon strikes 
with its wing. If the peregrine used the latter, 
however, in all probability the wing would be 
seriously damaged or broken, because the pace 
at which a falcon stoops must be seen to be 
believed." 
There is another interesting fact in regard to 
this fine bird which is not generally known. 
There seems little doubt that he deserves the 
description which has more than once been 
applied to him — that of a wanton murderer. 
Thus Charles St. John in his classic work. Wild 
Sports and Natural History of the Highlands, 
says (chap, x.) : " The peregrine seems often to 
strike down birds for his amusement, and I have 
seen one knock down and kill two rooks, who were 
unlucky enough to cross his flight, without taking 
the trouble to look at them after they fell." 
