[Illustration: THE PEREGRINE FALCON (_Falco peregrinus_).]
The PEREGRINE FALCON (_Falco peregrinus_) is the member of the family
with which we are most familiar. The plumage of the old bird is light
slate colour on the upper part of the body, and marked with dark grey
triangular spots, which produce a striped effect; the brow is grey,
the tail striped with bright grey and bordered with yellow towards the
tips of the feathers; the wing-quills are greyish black, the inner web
being marked with reddish-yellow spots arranged in stripes; the throat
is yellow, and marked by two black streaks that commence on the cheeks;
the lower part of the breast and belly are reddish yellow, the former
streaked with brownish yellow and marked with lozenge-shaped spots; the
hinder part of the body is striped with dark irregular patches. During
the life of the birds the plumage is covered with a greyish dust. The
female is brighter in colour than her mate. The iris is dark brown, the
cere, corners of the mouth, and bare places around the eyes are yellow.
The young are blackish grey upon the upper part of the body, every
feather being bordered with reddish yellow; the throat and upper part
of the breast are white or greyish yellow, streaked with light or dark
brown; the beak is light blue, the cere and naked places on the head
blueish or greenish yellow. The old male is from sixteen to eighteen
inches long, and from thirty to forty broad, whilst the female, on the
contrary, is from eighteen to twenty-one inches long, and forty to
forty-two inches broad; the wing measures from fourteen to fifteen and a
half inches, and the tail six and a half to seven and a half inches.
The name of _Peregrine_ or _Wandering Falcon_ most accurately describes
the habits of this species, which is found almost throughout the wide
world. Its habitat extends from Northern Asia and Western Europe, and
during the breeding season it frequents the northern coasts of the
Mediterranean. As winter approaches it migrates to Africa, visiting the
very heart of that continent, and occasionally making its appearance
in the neighbourhood of the Cape of Good Hope. According to Jerdon,
the Peregrine Falcon is regularly met with in India throughout the
cold season, during which it roams about the country lying between the
Himalaya Mountains and Cape Comorin, but is seen in the greatest numbers
on the coast or upon the banks of rivers. These birds appear in India
towards the first week in October and leave again in April, but never
breed there. The species inhabiting America also migrates farther south,
but we cannot speak with certainty as to their being found in Mexico,
though we have known instances in which they have flown across the Gulf
of Mexico--indeed, so great are their powers of endurance when upon the
wing that a distance of a hundred miles seems to be regarded as a mere
pleasure excursion by these restless marauders. The Wandering Falcon
is very courageous, and its powerful body and bright intelligent eye
clearly indicate a high standing in respect to its natural gifts. When
about to take flight this species usually spreads its tail, and flies
for a short distance close to the ground before rising into the air,
where its course is very rapid, and produced by quick, hurried strokes of
the pinions; during the period of incubation it soars to a considerable
height, but at other seasons keeps comparatively near the earth, and is
easily recognised by its slender form, narrow tail, and long, pointed
wings. Dense woods afford these birds the retreats they prefer, and even
there they rarely retire to rest until late in the evening, selecting
their sleeping place with great care in some thickly-covered nook: whilst
reposing they perch upon a branch with the neck drawn in so completely
as to give their head the appearance of growing from the shoulders, the
black cheeks and white throat adding considerably to their striking
appearance as they sit warily upon their guard against approaching
danger. The cry of this species is powerful and full-toned, but is rarely
heard except during the breeding season.
Nothing can exceed the terror in which the Peregrine Falcon is regarded
by such of its feathered brethren as cannot compete with it in strength
or activity--indeed, no bird from a Wild Goose to a Lark is safe from
its murderous attacks. Its prey, which is usually seized when upon
the wing, is made to rise from the ground by a variety of tactics. A
Partridge it terrifies by performing gyrations above its head, until
the frightened creature endeavours to seek safety in flight; Pigeons
are often so panic-stricken as to plunge into the water, and Ducks are
frequently so overcome with fear and exhausted with their struggles as
to be powerless to dive, and thus to elude the dreaded foe. Rapidity
of flight is no security against its attacks. Some species of Pigeons
endeavour to save themselves by crowding close together in a thick mass,
and quitting the locality with all possible expedition; but even this
stratagem rarely meets with complete success, for some weary straggler
is pretty certain to fall into the clutches of the ever-watchful enemy,
who darts down upon its victim like an arrow from a bow. Immense numbers
of Crows are also destroyed by these birds, who often subsist for whole
weeks together upon their flesh: despite the well-known courage of the
Crow, it seems to consider, when brought face to face with this powerful
tyrant, that "discretion is the better part of valour," and at once
endeavours to slink off unobserved, or beat a very undignified retreat;
all attempts at flight are, however, perfectly hopeless, for so rapid is
the speed of the pursuer that the eye cannot follow its course, as it
flashes down with a whizzing sound, and pounces fiercely upon its almost
paralysed victim--indeed, so incredibly powerful is the shock with which
the Peregrine Falcon occasionally descends, that instances have been
known in which the pursuer has actually killed or stunned itself by the
violence of its swoop, or has plunged to such a depth in the water, when
endeavouring to seize a duck, as to have been drowned in the attempt.
Large birds, such as Wild Geese, are generally disposed of while upon the
ground, as their size would render it impossible to contend with them
in the air, and the flesh is devoured upon the spot where the victim
is killed; more portable prey, on the contrary, is carried off to some
quiet retreat, where it can be eaten at leisure. Small birds are entirely
consumed, but larger kinds are stripped of a portion of the feathers, and
the entrails are thrown aside as unfit for food.
Every variety of situation seems to be regarded with favour by this
species, and it will live as comfortably in a crowded city as on
precipitous and impassable mountain ranges; when about to breed, however,
a decided preference is shown for the latter situation, as affording
ready-made holes, which require but little labour to convert them into
dwellings for the young; hollow forest trees are also employed for this
purpose, and a pair of Wandering Falcons often render their preparatory
exertions still more light by the appropriation of a Crow's nest. The
eyrie is very slightly constructed of twigs or brushwood, and the eggs,
three or four in number, are laid about May or June; these are round,
of a yellowish red, spotted with brown. The task of brooding devolves
entirely upon the female; the young are fed at first upon half digested
flesh, and afterwards with the same in its fresh state. When fledged they
are carefully instructed in all the arts required in their freebooting
life, and only withdraw themselves from their parents' protection when
fully competent to do battle with any member of the numerous species
against which their family wages constant war.
One strange habit of the Peregrine Falcon must not be passed over without
notice--namely, that at the very first attack made upon it by even the
most insignificant and cowardly of feathered assailants, it will at once
throw down its prey, or even allow it to be seized and carried off by
foes of so timid a character that a spirited clucking hen might drive
them from the spot. We have ourselves seen in North-eastern Africa one
of these fierce and strong marauders resign possession of three Ducks
in succession when beset by an impudent party of feathered mendicants,
amongst which the prey was dropped without even an attempt at resistance.
Most serious and extensive is the destruction caused by these birds, and
since the days of falconry have passed away no service rendered by them
can in any degree compensate for the many injuries they inflict upon our
property--indeed, but little can be said in their favour, except that
they are imposing in their appearance when sailing through the realms of
air.
When caged they will sometimes live for many years, and exhibit
surprising voracity. Naumann mentions having kept a Peregrine Falcon for
some time in confinement, and tells us that on one occasion it devoured
the whole of a fox in the course of two days; three Crows were only
sufficient for one day's provision, but, on the other hand, it could,
if required, fast for a whole week; this bird would seize six Sparrows
at a time, three in each foot, and dispatch them, as it squatted on the
ground, by biting one after the other through the head, laying down each
victim in succession until all were killed.