File:Birds of Britain (1907) (14568765439).jpg

Identifier: birdsofbritain00bonh (find matches)
Title: Birds of Britain
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Bonhote, J. Lewis (John Lewis), 1875-1922 Dresser, Henry Eeles, 1838-1915
Subjects: Birds -- Great Britain
Publisher: London, A. and C. Black
Contributing Library: American Museum of Natural History Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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of male 21 in.; wing 14*5 in.; the female is ratherlarger. THE GYR FALCON Faico gyrfalco, Linnseus Two examples of this Scandinavian and North Eussiauspecies have been obtained in England. It is very closely allied to the Iceland Falcon, but thehead is darker and the under parts are very thickly barred.Length 195 in.; wing 14 in. THE PEREGRINE Falco peregrinus, Tunstall This noble species, the king of Falcons, is still, we areglad to say, by no means uncommon round our coasts, thoughas a breeding bird it has been banished from most of itsinland eyries. To those who still keep up the ancient sportof hawking, an amusement, which to our minds comesnearer true sport than any of its latter-day substitutes, thePeregrine is the favourite bird, and a grand sight it is to seethis beautiful species ring up above his prey and stoop at him with half-closed wings and unerring aim, whenpursuer and pursued come down to ground, the former to 212 PEREGRINE Falco peregriiius Adult (left). Young (rightV
Text Appearing After Image:
The Peregrine earn the reward of his prowess and the latter to a happydespatch. Agricultural conditions have had much to do with thedecline of this sport, an amusement which lacks the one-sidedness of a Pheasant or Partridge drive, and one inwhich the forces of nature are matched together. The Peregrine, as its name implies, is a bird of passage,and visits on migration most parts of our islands. In thenesting season at the end of March or early in April itreturns to its former eyrie, generally on some overhung ledgeof a cliff on which there is a little earth, or more rarelyin the old deserted nest of Rook or Crow. It adds nomaterials but lays its four beautiful yellowish eggs, whichare thickly marked with deeper shades of orange and rufous,on the bare ground, or in the nest just as it was found. Theyoung are covered at first with whitish down. Its food,wliich is always taken on the wing, consists of birds of allkinds, up to the size of a Crow, but Ducks, Sea-fowl, andPigeons constitut

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