into many different languages. Another
famous fable writer was Jean de La Fontaine.
His books of fables were published
in the 1600s in France. They were
admired as literature. Today new fables
are still written or adapted from older
ones for children’s books and movies.
#More to explore
Aesop • Literature for Children
• Storytelling
Falcon
Falcons are birds of prey, meaning that
they hunt and eat animals for food.
They are swift, powerful fliers. A sport
called falconry dates back to ancient
times. It involves training falcons to
hunt animals in cooperation with
humans. Some common kinds of falcons
include the peregrine falcon, the merlin,
and several types of kestrels.
“The Three Little Pigs” is a well-known fable.
A wolf destroys the houses of two pigs, but
he cannot destroy a third house. The third
pig worked hard to make a sturdy house.
Many fables
feature a sly
fox or a cruel
wolf. They
teach children
to beware of
people who
are sly or
cruel.
4 Fable BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Falcons are found nearly all over the
world. They live in many habitats,
including forests, deserts, grasslands, and
even cities.
Usually the female falcon is larger and
bolder than the male. Falcons range in
size from about 6 to 24 inches (15 to 61
centimeters). The gyrfalcon is the largest
of the falcons.
A falcon has sharp claws and a short
hooked beak. The beak usually has a
small notch called a tooth. These features
help it catch and kill prey animals.
A falcon’s shape helps it fly quickly. Its
body is shaped like a bullet, while its
wings are long and pointed. Unlike
hawks and eagles, falcons rarely soar and
glide. They dive down fast to catch prey.
Some falcons capture other birds in
midair. Other falcons kill hares, mice,
lizards, and insects on the ground.
#More to explore
Bird • Bird of Prey • Eagle • Hawk
Falkland Islands
The rocky and nearly treeless Falkland
Islands lie 300 miles (480 kilometers)
northeast of the southern tip of South
America. The islands are an overseas
territory of the United Kingdom. Argentina
also claims the islands. It calls them
the Malvinas Islands. The capital of the
Falklands is Stanley.
Geography
The Falklands include two main
islands—East Falkland andWest
Falkland—and about 200 smaller
islands in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Hills stretch across the northern parts of
A kestrel with a grasshopper in its beak
perches on a fence post.
Many penguins live on the Falkland Islands
and nearby islands.
BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA Falkland Islands 5
both main islands. The climate is chilly,
rainy, and windy.
Plants and Animals
Grasses cover much of the land. Seals
and sea lions bask on the beaches, while
dolphins and whales swim offshore.
Black-browed albatrosses and other seabirds
soar overhead. Millions of penguins
breed on the islands.
People and Economy
Only about 3,000 people live on the
islands. Most of them speak English and
have British ancestors. Most live in Stanley,
which is the only town of any size.
The main jobs are fishing and sheep
raising. Tourism is also important to the
economy.
History
The known history of the Falkland
Islands begins with visits by European
explorers in the 1600s. The French
founded the islands’ first settlement on
East Falkland in 1764. In 1765 the British
settledWest Falkland. The Spanish
soon took over these settlements. The
British returned in 1771 but left in
1774.
Argentina—the South American country
closest to the Falklands—claimed the
islands in 1820. In 1833, however, the
British took over the islands. Argentina
never accepted British rule of the Falklands.
On April 2, 1982, the Argentines
invaded the Falklands. This started the
Falkland IslandsWar. The British
defeated the Argentines 10 weeks later.
Despite its defeat, Argentina continued
to claim the islands.
#More to explore
Argentina • United Kingdom
Famine
A famine exists when large numbers of
people cannot get enough food for long
periods of time. People in a famine may
die from starvation or disease. There
have been famines throughout history
and in all parts of the world.
Natural disasters, including drought,
earthquakes, and floods, can cause famines
by destroying crops or by making it
difficult to distribute food. Other causes
include insects that destroy crops, very
cold weather, too much rainfall, and
diseases that harm crops or livestock.
Sheep
outnumber
people on the
Falklands
by about
200 to 1. Donations of food from the
United States have helped to
protect many countries from famine.
6 Famine BRITANNICA STUDENT ENCYCLOPEDIA
Wars also may cause famines. Armies
may call farmers away. Stored food may
go to soldiers. Blocked roads may make
it hard to transport food easily.
Some countries have too many people
for the amount of available food. These
countries tend to be poor. This makes it
even harder to deal with famine because
they do not have the money to buy food
from other countries for their people.
Depending too much on one kind of
food can also lead to famine. Ireland
used to depend heavily on potatoes.
When that crop failed during 1845–49,
more than 1 million people died. Producing
a variety of foods can help countries
avoid famine.
