PEEEGEINE FALCON.
FALCO PEREGRINUS, Tunstall.
Falco peregrinus, Tunstall, Ornith. Brit. p. 1 (1771) ; Naum.
i. p. 285; Macff. iii. p. 294; Hewitson, i. p. 24; Yarr.
ed. 4, i. p. 53; Dresser, vi. p. 31.
Faucon commun, Faucon pèlerin, French; Wanderfalke,
German; Halcón, Halcón real, Spanish.
This most noble of birds, although ruthlessly persecuted
by game-preservers in many districts, still
breeds annually on various parts of the coasts of the
three kingdoms and their adjacent islands, as well as
in some inland localities, but in most of our English
counties is best known as an autumnal visitor, generally
following the annual southward migration of Wild-fowl
and Wood-Pigeons, and frequently, if not molested,
remaining during the winter and late into the spring
in places that afford a sufficiency of prey and facilities
for the capture thereof.
I suppose that it would be a hopeless task to attempt
to explain to any but those few who love sport in its
higher sense for its own sake, the feeling that falconers
entertain for the Peregrine, hallowed to them as she is
by tradition of ages, and their most “ generous ” and
G.E.Lodge del, A Smit lith. P E R E G R I N E EAEC O N .
Palco p ereg riru is, TunstcM .
I FEMALE IN FOURTH YEAR.
Mirvterrv B ros . imp.