60 TENTATORES. PROBERS. 



nests, but use open force. This is in accordance with their 

 organization, they being supplied with very efficient weapons, 

 in their sharp and curved bills and claws, and with means of 

 rapid locomotion in their powerful wings. The Peregrine 

 Falcon instantly attacks any suspected bird, such as a Raven 

 or Hooded Crow, that approaches the cliff on which its nest 

 is built, but pays no attention to those which it acquits of 

 hostile intentions. It will even assail, and, if necessary, 

 strike at the Sea Eagle or the Golden Eagle, which it knows 

 to be destructive birds, although it does not appear that they 

 ever attack that vigorous and watchful bird or meddle with 

 its nest. Some of the smaller hawks, especially the Merlin 

 and the Sparrow-Hawk, are equally ready to drive off in- 

 truders. Birds of this tribe, when excited by the screams of 

 their young, or even when simply seeing their nests invaded, 

 fearlessly attack man himself, of whom, in other circum- 

 stances, they have a salutary dread. Vultures, it is said, are 

 less courageous, and we have none to make observations 

 upon ; and Owls, being of nocturnal habits, are in a great 

 measure removed from our inspection, although it is known 

 that they occasionally make a vigorous defence. 



The Insessorial birds are less efficiently armed, and yet 

 many of them display the greatest courage in defending their 

 nests. The larger species, especially the Raven, the Hooded 

 Crow and the Carrion Crow, have strength and spirit enough 

 to drive off Gulls, Hawks, and all other birds of which they 

 are suspicious. I have often seen two Ravens sally forth to 

 meet or pursue an Eagle that happened to come within a 

 quarter of a mile of their nest, and so annoy him as make 

 him glad to get away from them as soon as possible. Yet, 

 Avhen Eagles and Ravens nestle in the same rock, or range 

 of cliffs, they live quite peaceably together. There are 

 among the smaller species many, such as the Titmice, 

 Thrushes, and Swallows, that make a vigorous defence of 

 their nests ; but very many others merely keep flying around 

 and evincing their anxiety by frequent cries. When a pair 

 of birds attempt to seize upon the nest of another pair, of a 

 different species, the latter, if not able to make an efficient 

 defence, attract by their screams numerous individuals of their 



