2l4 The Ifish Naturalist > Kovember, 
With regard to the contention of Mr. M'Carron that the 
bird which passes as the " Young Razorbill" is a distinct 
species from the common Razorbill, i I am more inclined 
to favour Mr. Harrington's view of there not being two 
species of Razorbill. The birds that are mentioned as 
young Razorbills are quite common here from the month 
of December to the middle of March. In Wicklow Bay, 
Blacksod Bay, Carlingford Lough and Ballycottin Bay 
they are very numerous. Even in Valencia last year I 
saw some of them caught in nets, but in Blacksod Bay 
especially they are very numerous. 
Great Skellig Lighthouse, Co. Kerr}-. 
REVIEWS. 
THE FALCON'S NEST. 
The Peregrine Falcon at the Eyrie. By Francis Heatherley, F.R.C.S., 
London : Offices of " Country Life," 19 13. Pp. 80, with many 
photographs. Price 55. net. 
In this splendidly illustrated book, Dr. Heatherley has made a revelation 
of the domestic life of the Peregrine wliich he brings before us in a long 
series of most excellent photographs. These show the bird and its young 
in various poses and actions while the brooding and feeding of the nestlings 
was going on. It excites our wonder that so wild and watchful a creature 
would endure the erection of a shed on trestles lashed with ropes within 
a few feet of its eyrie ; though to a certain extent an object of suspicion, 
and daily disturbed by the change of occupant, this structure never 
interfered with the attendance on the young by their male parent, who 
proved a most devoted and expert nurse, leaving it to the female to 
provide the food supply. This consisted largely of Puffins as well as 
Thrushes and other land-birds, the feathers and bones being offered to 
and swallowed by the nestling Peregrines. Feeding went on at intervals 
from dawn through the morning and evening, being generally discontinued 
in the middle of the day. The bits that were dropped were carefully 
picked up and given again to the 5-oung, unlike the custom of Auks and 
Gannets which leave a fish when once it has fallen, though they have to go 
so far to get another. The food-note is described and another call to urge 
on the young to take food, also the alarm cry and several other expressions 
of bird language peculiar to the Peregrine. The site chosen for the eyrie 
does not seem to be so precipitous as is usual in Ireland, where a clitl 
almost always overhangs it {sec, "Birds of Ireland," p. 142, and "Our 
Rarer British Breeding Birds," by Kearton, p. 26). 
^ Irish Naturalist, vol. viii., 1899, pp. 132-134. 
