FALCO PEREGRINUS.
Peregrine Falcon.
Falco peregrinus et communis, Gmel. et auct., F. calidus. L ath .; F. abietinus, Bechat.; F. micrurus, Hodga.
Bhgri of the Hindoos ; Bas of the Buchanans ; and Basi of the Persians.
To enumerate the parts of 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 of the Isle of W ight, Lulworth Cove, Wales,
and Holyhead. In Scotland, the Bass Rock and all similar situations, both on the mainland and in the
islands, are frequented by it ; and the same may be said of the sister kingdom of Ireland;; where its numbers
are neither diminished nor augmented, similar conditions alone 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 of my having received specimens from
nearly all those countries. Birds intimately allied to the Falco peregrinus are alsoPound,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 anatwa o f North America; the i". minor of South Africa,th e F . tunetams of
North Africa, the F . peregrinator o f India, and the F . melanogenys o f Anstralia. These distinctions being
admitted, the Peregrines form an important section1 o f the Falconidæ, instead o f constituting a single
species, as was formerly supposed; they are all of similar habits, and they are alike destined to perform
similar offices in the great scheme of nature.
The Peregrine is the Falcon “ p ar excellence ” employed in the noble sport of 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 ' Traite
dé Fauconnerie' of my friend Dr. Schlegel of Leyden. In days gone by, onr ancestors devoted much of
their time to this noble sport, preserved dnd cherished the Peregrine by every means in their power, and
punished its destruction o r molestation with great severity, many instances of which arc on record.
During the period of 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 occur* within
the area o f 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 of food, particularly wooded parks and domains in the neighbourhood o f large waters frequented
by ducks, coots, and other water-fowl, 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 B nrdett, 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 of conduct which has
not only met with Lord Craven’s approval, bnt which will be duly appreciated by every lover o f nature. On
the 25th of March, 1856, Burdett writes, “ There has been for the last four or five years a Peregrine, and
sometimes two, on the trees skirting the large water a t Coombe Abbey. I have often seen them take Coots,
Moor-hens, Ducks, &c. On Sunday the 13th I saw one of them strike six Bald Coots quite dead, but it did
not take any further notice o f them as regards taking them for food. While Charles Lachlan H arris, Esq., and
I were fishing yesterday, the 24th, the Peregrine came within five or six yards of us, and took from the water
a Bald Coot by the head and carried it nearly ashore, but, on my calling out; 1 dropped i t; in two or three
minutes he came again, seized another Coot by the head as before, and; took it in his talons to the shore, a
distance of about one hundred- and -fifty yards ; I pushed after- him, and when ! had arrived within about
thirty yards, he flew off, leaving the Coot behind t- he had dislocated-.its neck, and commenced picking its
breast. I send you this bird for examination.” On- dissection I found the neck dislocated at the third joint
from the head, and an appearance as if the sharp point -of the hind -claw had penetrated the brain at the
occiput. Burdett informed me th at such- wan the amazing rapidity with which the Peregrine skimmed
over the surface of the water, that the Coot had no chance of escaping either .by diving o r by.flight. Dr.
Troughton of Coventry, in a note dated October 12th, 1860, says, " The P eregrine has returned to Coombe,
committing devastation among the Coots and Pigeons.” Now I regard the foregoing information with much