430 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
The Gerfalcon (Falco gerfalco ) is a native of Greenland, and the very em¬ 
bodiment of courage and fearless activity. In its wild state it hunts hares 
and rabbits, so that the education which it undergoes when trained is due rather 
to its wilfuluess than to its ignorance. As a rule its plumage is white. 
The Wandering or Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus ) is the species 
trained to assist the hunter, for its disposition, without being sweet, is more 
amiable than that of other falcons. The male being a third smaller in size is 
frequently called the tercel. In speaking of the antelope and gazelle mention 
will be made of the use of the falcon. 
The Kingly Milan (.Milvns regains) is frequently trained like the falcon. 
At one time a number of them had their feet frozen to the boughs upon 
which they had 
perched, and fell 
victims to the peas¬ 
ants. Accidents of 
this kind may over¬ 
take even an ani¬ 
mal, as in the case 
of the eagle which, 
stepping on an ice¬ 
berg to take its meal 
of fish, was com¬ 
pelled to remain a 
prisoner until it 
perished from star¬ 
vation. 
The Kite (Mil- 
vus Ictinus) is a very 
familiar sight in all 
parts of Europe, but 
has not, as yet, be¬ 
come naturalized in 
America. Its name 
is so often used by 
British writers that 
a few words of de¬ 
scription will, doubt¬ 
less, prove service¬ 
able. Its body is 
about two feet and 
goshawk and nest {Astur pctiumbaris). ' a quarter in length, 
but its wings ex¬ 
pand more than five feet. Its coloring is reddish-brown, streaked with 
deep black; its tail is distinctly barred in brown, and forked at the extremit}^. 
It is rapidly becoming extinct, but has impressed itself upon the literature of 
Great Britain, and become familiar to every child through the Chinese kites. 
The Swallow-tailed Kite [Elanoides forficatus) is a native of America, 
where its beautiful black and white plumage, and swallow-tailed coat arrest 
attention. It is insectivorous, and exhibits the most remarkable grace and 
