CHARACTER. 
109 
cowardly murder: he hides, like a footpad, behind bush 
and hedge, suddenly dashing out upon some small bird 
flying by, and, alas! unconscious of its danger; these 
are generally its prey. He lives in ambush, and his ways 
are knavish: his nest is placed in a low, thick-topped 
tree, and bushes and shrubs are his favourite haunts; he 
prefers the advantage of a sudden and hidden attack to 
honourable open warfare. Other birds of prey which 
are possessed of short wings and long tails like him,— 
even Bonelli’s Eagle and the Harpy,—are equally 
sneaking in their habits. 
The true Falcons are just the contrary in their 
character : in Germany they are called “ noble Falcons,” 
and well they merit the title, for they are noble and 
thorough-bred, in every sense of the words: gallant, 
honourable warfare is their delight: they inhabit high 
places, and live among the clouds,—on the topmost 
branches of trees, rocky peaks, the towers and steeples of 
populous cities,—all these places they select for their 
points of observation. I have seen them on St. Stephen’s 
Tower in Vienna and on the Pyramid of Cheops; on the 
crags and pinnacles of both North and South; on the 
withered tops of ancient fir trees, and high up on the 
summit of the giant Adansonia of Central Africa. They 
never hide, but show themselves openly; confident in 
their strength, and conscious of their speed of wing, they 
proclaim open feud with all other birds. Full of contempt 
they look down upon the common herd of thieves below 
them, and all noisy and importunate intruders they treat 
without ceremony to a blow of their talons. Falcons 
devour only what they kill themselves; booty without 
battle seems to them but a sorry gift. Every glance and 
motion betokens the nobility of their nature. 
Q 
