8 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 



age, and is the terror of the water-fowl, which constitute the 

 greater portion of its prey. The breeding season of this 

 species is very early. It commences building the nest 

 usually on an inaccessible cliff, by the first of April. This 

 is constructed of twigs, grasses, and sometimes seaweeds. 

 The eggs are from two to four in number : their form is 

 almost spherical, and their color is of a reddish-brown, 

 covered with numerous minute spots and blotches of a 

 darker shade. The dimensions of the only two specimens 

 accessible to me at present are 1.90 inch in length by 1.75 

 in breadth, and 1.85 inch in length by 1.72 inch in breadth. 

 The following extracts from the writings of different 

 authors comprise the most interesting observations made 

 of this species : — 



" The flight of this bird is of astonishing rapidity. It is scarcely 

 ever seen sailing, unless after being disappointed in its attempt to 

 secure the prey which it had been pursuing ; and even at such 

 times it merely rises, with a broad spiral circuit, to attain a suffi- 

 cient elevation to enable it to reconnoitre a certain space below. It 

 then emits a cry much resembling that of the sparrow-hawk, but 

 greatly louder, like that of the European kestrel, and flies off 

 swiftly in quest of plunder. The search is often performed with a 

 flight resembling that of the tame pigeon, until, perceiving an object, 

 it redoubles its flappings, and pursues the fugitive with a rapidity 

 scarcely to be conceived. Its turnings, windings, and cuttings 

 through the air, are now surprising. It follows and nears the 

 timorous quarry at every turn and back-cutting which the latter 

 attempts. Arrived within a few feet of the prey, the Falcon is 

 seen protruding his powerful legs and talons to their full stretch. 

 His wings are, for a moment, almost closed ; the next instant, he 

 grapples the prize, which, if too weighty to be carried off directly, 

 he forces obliquely toward the ground, sometimes a hundred yards 

 from where it was seized, to kill it, and devour it on the spot. 

 Should this happen over a large extent of water, the Falcon drops 

 his prey, and sets off in quest of another. On the contrary, should 

 it not prove too heavy, the exulting bird carries it off to a seques- 

 tered and secure place. He pursues the smaller ducks, water-hens, 



