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Teutsche Raubvögel
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Birds. LXI. Vol. IV. No. 70., GERMAN BIRDS OF PREY., Fig. 1. The peregrine Falcon. (Falco peregrinus.), This Falcon resides in the rocky mountains of the Northern parts of Europe, Asia and America, but also occurs frequently in Germany, especially in Thuririgia and the Ilercynian foreft. On acconnt of its strength, boldness and docility it is very osten tvained to chai'e hairs, rabbits, and partridges. It (lies to an euorrnous height, and not feldom ahnoft out of huinan fight, continually foarnig in a circle tili it perceives its prey upon which it darts down like an arrow. It chiejly commits the greatest dévastations among the wild fowl of the woods and the field. In October it migrâtes into warmer régions and returns in the month of March whence its naine is derived. Its length, measured from head to ta il, is 22 inches. dark brown variegated vvith black. Its colonr is light and, The Kestrel., Fig. 2. The Male. Fig. 3. The Female. (Falco tinnunculus.), The kestrel which is also called the stonegall, the stannel or Windhover, commonly inhabits church-fteenles or otlier fèquestered towers. It is somewhat smaller in size than the peregrine falcon and only 16 inches long. It belongs, especially the maie, to the prêttieft kinds of falcons. Its colour is a kind of blue grey which is variegated with yellow, brown and black, in a m oft elegant mamier; the seinale is of a pale yeîlow colour, mixed with darkbrown and black. It is very fréquent in Germany and preys on pigeons, ail kinds of small birds, field-mice, quails, pr^-tridges and young hairs. This falcon is the terror of the small finging birds and the lark tumbles from the air like doad when it perceives the keftrel. It is rnuch purfued, by the hunters for its being so nuxious to the chafe of small garne., Fig. 4. The Kite. (Falco milvus.), The size of the kite is nearly îhat of the peregrine falcon. Its colour coufifts of yellow, a ferruginous brown and black. Its tail is forked whence its german name is derived. This ravenous bird is very frequeul in Germany and lives commonly about -the villages where it very osten comrnts liavock among the poultry, continually preying on hens, geefe and ducks. It feeds also sometirnes on Carrion. It is of so coward and timorous a nature that fparrovv-hawks and even ravens force it very osten to let go its prey., Fig. 5. The Goshawk. (Falco palumbarius.), The Croshawk is met vvith in Europe and Asia. It is very bold and intrepkl and. preys generally on wild and tarne fowl. It is of an untractable nature and very feldom brought, to any degree of tameness. It builds its nest on lofty trees, and pigeons are its favourite food. When t'. vo Years old it changes its plumage and becomes of a nuthrown colour, whence., Fig. 6. The poultey falcon (Falco gallinarius.), which was thought to be another species, is but. a Goshawk two. years old, RosembÜMg the above mentioned in size and figure, and only differing from it in regard to its feathérs and colour.
