grine Falcon is, however, by no means restricted to the
neighbourhood of the sea, but breeds on sites in the interior,
provided that they be sufficiently adapted from their impregnability
and resources. The same was, if it is not now, the
case in Ireland, where, according to Thompson, it inhabited
suitable localities throughout the country, breeding in inland
as well as marine cliffs. In the greater part of England,
however, it is best known as a migrant most commonly met
with in autumn, but occasionally wintering in some spot where
abundance of food is obtainable. Such migrants are almost
invariably birds of the year—real “ Passage ” or “ Peregrine
Hawks,” in falconers’ language; but in spring it is not very
unusual for adults ( “ Haggards ” ) to make their appearance,
which would appear to be on their way northward, and after
staying for a week or ten days resume their journey. Such
a Falcon, remarkable for her extremely pale plumage, was
known to the Editor for several years as haunting every spring
for about that space of time a small plantation of old Scotch-
firs at Icklingham in Suffolk, and during her stay she subsisted
entirely on Stock-Doves, though the surrounding
heaths abounded in Partridges. I t may be that such a case I
is exceptional, but it is certain to every unprejudiced mind
that the Peregrine Falcon, though without doubt at times 1
destructive to game, is much less so than is supposed by ’
those who only listen to the stories of their gamekeepers!
instead of observing facts for themselves. Indeed, there are
strong grounds for believing that the presence of some Falcons
or other birds-of-prey is absolutely beneficial to the
interests of the game-preserver, since they unquestionably I
act as the sanitary police of Nature. On this subject Mr.
Gage Earle Freeman, in his ‘ Falconry,’ writes (p. 10) •
“ All hawks, when they have a choice, invariably choose the I
easiest flight. This fact is of the last importance in the j
matter before u s : I confess I at once give it the chief place |
in this argument. Who has not heard of the grouse disease?;
I t has been attributed, sometimes respectively and sometimes |
collectively to burnt heather; to heather poisoned from the |
dressings put on sheep; to the sheep themselves cropping
the tender shoots and leaves of the plant, and thus destroying
the grouse’s food; to the tape-ivorm ; to shot which has
wounded but not killed; and perhaps to other things besides.
It may be, I doubt not, correctly referred to any or to all
of these. Of this, however, there appears no question, that,
from whatever cause it spring, it is propagated. A diseased
parent produces a diseased child. Now I say that when
every hawk is killed upon a large manor, the balance of
Nature is forgotten, or ignored; and that Nature will not
overlook an insult. She would have kept her wilds healthy ;
destroy her appointed instruments, and beware of her
revenge! ”
The Peregrine Falcon is found throughout Europe, with
the exception of Spitsbergen and Iceland, and even in the
latter there is a possibility of its accidental occurrence. Mr.
Gillett believed that he saw this species in Nova Zembla
(Ibis, 1870, p. 804). In northern Lapland, Wolley found
it breeding higher in the mountains than Falco gyrfalco.
It can be traced across Siberia, southward of lat. 64° N. to
the Sea of Ocliotsk, being, according to Dr. von Midden-
dorff, a bird of the forest zone. I t also occurs in Japan, and
thence southward through China to Manilla, whence there is
an example in the Norwich Museum. Motley obtained it in
Borneo, and Horsfield gives it from Sumatra. The Leyden
Museum contains specimens from Java, where, according to
Professor Schlegel, it is rare, though it breeds in the island
on trees (as has been said) and often preys on the Jungle-
fowl. In this locality, in the Philippines, and in China, the
true Peregrine Falcon meets the more southern form, Falco
melanogenys, originally described from Australia, in which
country it is universally distributed, and is distinguishable
from the northern bird by the more ruddy tints and the
closer barring of its lower plumage. In India, where two
other nearly-allied forms, F. peregrinator and F. atriceps,
also occur, F. peregrinus appears to be confined to the
north-western p a rts ; and though Mr. Hume considers that
it probably breeds within the limits of that country, Mr.
Jerdon is of the contrary opinion. This last ornithologist