OBSERVED IN JUNE 1833. 21 



the larva of different species of phryganea, constitute its principal food. 

 To obtain the latter in winter, when the rivers are mostly frozen over, it 

 resorts to such places as remain partially open, as the heads of quick run- 

 ning streams : In such situations on the Annan, Tweed, and other rivert, 

 I have repeatedly seen it dive into the stream from the margin of the ice, 

 remain some time submerged, and again reappear near the same spot, and 

 almost invariably with a prey in its bill, which it leisurely devoured on 

 the ice. 



During our excursion to Coldingham and the romantic scenery of St 

 Abb's Head on the 19th of June, besides the birds communicated to the 

 Club last autumn, the coot (Fulica atra) was observed upon Coldingham 

 Lough, wher j it no doubt breeds in the rushes and other aquatic herbage 

 at the northern extremity of this prettily formed piece of water. A large 

 flock of herring-gulls (Larus argcntatus) was also seen bathing and 

 sporting in it ; and these, I afterwards found, had their breeding stations 

 on particular parts of the Head, and the rocky cliffs to the north of it. 

 This species had not been observed during our excursion in July 1832, 

 having taken its departure from those haunts previous to our visit ; the 

 common gull (Larus canus), which breeds in great numbers on the rock 

 to the south of the Head, being the only species then visible. 



Upon reaching the cliffs immediately north of the Head, and where 

 they rise from the sea in fine broken and perpendicular faces to the height 

 of 300 or 400 feet, our attention was attracted by the powerful and hoarse 

 cry of a large species of Falco, two of which were seen soaring and 

 wheeling in the air at a considerable height y immediately in front of us. 

 These I immediately recognised to be a male and female of the Falco 

 peregrinus or common falcon. A nearer inspection of the precipice 

 soon discovered to us the cause of their alarm and vociferous outcries, 

 as we perceived two young birds (which the difference of size shewed to 

 be male and female) perched upon a projecting angle of the rock. From 

 their comparative tameness, and the short flights they took, when dis- 

 turbed, along the face of the rock, it was evident they had but very lately 

 quitted the nest. A shot was obtained at the young female within rea- 

 sonable distance, and supposed to have taken fatal effect, as it was never 

 seen afterwards, though the smaller bird remained visible as long as we 

 continued on the heights. This eyrie of the peregrine has long been 

 established, and it was from it that the late Mr Baird of Newbyth usu- 

 ally obtained his caste of hawks, for each of which he gave the persons 

 who undertook the perilous task of scaling the precipice one guinea. The 

 castings of these birds were scattered in great profusion upon the tope of 

 the cliffs; some which I examined were almost wholly composed of the 

 bones and feathers of gulls and ether aquatic fowl, others were mixed 

 with the featherj of partridges, and the bones of rabbits, and young 

 hares. 



Upon a low flat and isolated rock, about 150 to 200 yards from the 



