74 CATALOGUE OF BIRDS. 



nest, which was situated in a sheer sea cliff, and 

 surrounded by a lot of vegetation. On this first 

 occasion, so far as I can remember, the bird was off 

 the nest at the time of our arrival — at any rate I 

 don't remember getting a shot at her. What I do 

 remember is that she kept a respectful distance off 

 all the time we were there, which took the best part 

 of an afternoon, changing her position from point to 

 point on the surrounding rocks, and uttering a 

 plaintive sort of cry all the time. The cock bird 

 kept even farther away, soaring to an immense 

 height in the sky, his gyrations in the air being very 

 interesting to watch. All this time we lay concealed 

 amongst the rocks, but notwithstanding the fact 

 that the hen bird couldn't see us she wouldn't 

 venture on coming to the nest ; so I had to give it 

 up for that day. Twenty-two miles of a drive and ten 

 of a walk — i.e., taking both ways — on a very bright, 

 hot day, should have carried with it a better reward. 

 On the second occasion I instructed the shepherd to 

 bring his spring rabbit traps with him ; this time the 

 bird was on the nest, but we didn't know it; as when 

 standing below the cliff and shouting and clapping 

 our hands to flush her off, she wouldn't leave her 

 post. Just when we had given it all up, thinking 

 she couldn't be there, off she went ! ! taking me 

 completely by surprise ; and thus getting further off 

 than she otherwise would have done I practically 

 missed her. 



Then we got into a perfect place of concealment 

 — in a narrow gorge between some high precipitous 



