108 ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



and tlie kestrel may be seen fluttering along the 

 mai-gin, or dropping over the edge of the preci- 

 pice on his return to his own little establishment 

 from a mousing expedition into the interior. 



All these birds, with the exception of the ra- 

 ven, occasionally fall a prey to the peregrine ; 

 his rapacity, when pressed by hunger or the calls 

 of an importunate family, is equalled only by his 

 courage and audacity. I have seen him strike 

 and carry off a herring-gull, apparently with the 

 most perfect ease ; and it would appear that he 

 does not scruple to make a meal of his congener, 

 the kestrel, in situations where the latter bird 

 happens to be unusuall}^ abundant. A writer in 

 the "Zoologist"* — who seems to have had excel- 

 lent opportunities of observing the peregrine 

 during the breeding-season in the immediate 

 neighbourhood of his residence, and whose in- 

 teresting communication on its habits is v/ell 

 worthy a perusal — says that it even evinces a 

 partiality for the poor kestrels which resort to 

 the same cliffs on the southern coast of the Isle 

 of Wight. 



The peregrine falcon is seldom seen in Sussex 

 during the summer months, the interior of the 

 county offering, as I have said, no spot favourable 



* The Rev. C. Buiy. 



