Merun 283 



with the deep reddish-brown before the full complement 

 of four to the clutch was made up. Jeddle's triumph cul- 

 minated in his shooting the falconette, the female bird — 

 which is slightly larger than the tiercel, or male — a day 

 or two later, but I was not then present, It would cer- 

 tainly be interesting to know if the escaped tiercel found 

 another partner shortly afterwards, for certain it is that 

 we took a full clutch of eggs out of the same nest about a 

 month later. 



The female proved an exceedingly close sitter, and was 

 nearly trodden upon, whereas the male seemed to menace 

 us with shrill cries whilst flying about as we approached 

 the spot. Personally, I am sorry to report that Jeddle got 

 both these birds, and did not fail to secure his employer's 

 approbation. The hen he shot on the ground close to the 

 nest ; the cock he took on a tumulus — a mere pimple on 

 the tableland of moor — half a mile off, cruelly, I thought, 

 but without penalising himself under statutory law as 

 regards the banned pole-trap and its allies. 



We treated this bird in a surgeon-like manner ; he was 

 even reduced to a degree of tractability in confinement. 

 There seemed a possibility of turning him to account for 

 flying at skylarks if one cared to spend time over his 

 training. However, he made good his escape one day, 

 and returned, presumably, to the wild life which would 

 doubtless prove more agreeable to him. 



