FALCO PEREGRINOS.
Peregrine Falcon.
Gurel. et auct., F. calidus, L ath .; F. abietinus, Bechst.; F. micrurus, Hodgu.
Bat of the Buchanans; and Ban of the Persians.
To enumerate the parts o f Great Britain and Ireland frequented by the Peregrine would be superfluous,
since it is universally, though sparingly, dispersed over the three kingdoms wherever situations occur adapted
to its habits; these are generally, though not exclusively, precipitous rocks in the neighbourhood o f the
ocean, and bold headlands, such as Beachy Head and the cliffs o f the I sle o f Wight, Lulwortb Cove, Wales,
and Holyhead. In Scotland, the Bass Rock and all similar situations, both om the mainland and in the
islands, are frequented by i t ; and the same may be said of the sister kingdom of Ireland, where its numbers
are neither diminished nor augmented, similar conditions aloné being necessary for its presence. The other
countries inhabited by this bird are the continent o f Europe generally, Greenland,-and probably Arctic
America. That it also extends its range to Northern Africa, India; Borneo, the Amoor, China-, and Japan is
certain, from the evidence of various writers, and from the fact o f my having received specimens from
nearly all those countries. Birds intimately allied to the Falco peregrinas are also found-in North America,
Cape Horn, a t the Cape of Good Hope, in India, and in Australia, all o f which, although closely resembling
each other, possess distinctive characteristics, and have rightly, I think, been regarded as so many
species; they are the Falco anatom o f North America, the F. minor o f South Africa,-the F* tuneianusoï
North Africa, the F. peregrinator o f India, and the F . melanogenys o f Australia. These distinctions being
admitted, the Peregrine* form an important section of the Falconidæ, instead o f constituting a single
species, as was formerly supposed; they are all o f similar habits, and they are alike destined to perform
similar offices in the great scheme o f nature.'
The Peregrine is the Falcon “ par excellence” employed in the noble sport o f Falconry; but into this
p art o f its history it will not be necessary for me to enter, so many excellent works having been written on
the subject, to one of which I would, however, especially direct attention, namely, the magnificent:‘Traité
dé Fauconnerie ’ of my friend Dr. Schlegel o f Leyden. In days gone by, our ancestors devoted much o f
their time to this noble sport, preserved and cherished the Peregrine by every means in their power, and
punished its destruction o r molestation with great severity, many instances o f which a re On record.
During the period o f incubation and the rearing o f its progeny, when the oceanic cliffs are resorted
to, it preys upon Gulls, Guillemots, Rock Pigeons, Plovers, and nearly every other bird which occurs within
the area of its particular beat, and vast indeed is the destruction of life in the neighbourhood of its eyrie.
In autumn the Peregrine often retires inland and takes up a position in parts likely to afford it a plentiful
supply o f food, particularly wooded parks and domains in the neighbourhood o f large waters frequented
by ducks, coots, and other water-few!, to which it appears to be especially partial ,- and in such localities
it would probably always remain until the next breeding-season, if left unmolested. Of this feature
in the bird’s economy I have some certain and curious evidence forwarded to me from Coombe Abbey,
Warwickshire, by Mr. James Burdett, keeper to the E arl o f Craven, who, unlike keepers in general, has, much
to his credit, evinced a desire to preserve rather than to destroy this fine bird,—a line o f Conduct which has
not only met with Lord Craven’s approval, but which will be duly appreciated by every lover of nature. On
the 25th of March, 1856; Burdett writes, “ There has been for the last four o r five years a Peregrine, and
aomctfoin two, on the trees skirting the large water a t Coombe Abbey. I have often seen them take Coots,
Moor-iii • Ducks. Ac. On Sunday the 13th I saw one o f them strike six Bald Coots quite dead, but it did
notice o f them as regards taking them for food. While Charles Lachlan H arris, Esq., and
«lay, the 2 4th, the P eregrine came within five o r six yards of us, and took from the water
bead and carried it nearly ashore, but, on my calling out,-dropped i t ; in two or three
Lm, seized another Coot by the bead as before, and-took it in his talons to the shore, a
L a hundred and fifty yard s; I pushed after him; and when I had arrived within about
„if, having the Coot behind ; he had dislocatedvits neck, and commenced picking its
this bird for examination.” On-dissection I found thé neck dislocated a t the third joint
an mipearanee as if the sharp point o f the hind «law had penetrated the brain at the
inform»« me th at such was the1 amazing rapidity with which the Peregrine skimmed
th e water, that the Coot had no chance o f escaping either by diving o r by flight. Dr.
[try, in a «ote dated O ctober 12th, 1860, says, “ The Peregrine has returned to Coombe,
[ion among the Coots and Pigeons.” Now I regard the foregoing information with much