XXX INTRODUCTION. 



Rock Dove breeds in great numbers, and its congener the Stock 

 Dove is particularly numerous, breeding in the cliffs both north 

 and south of the North Landing at Flamborough. The House 

 Martins have their nests under the ledges of the cliffs, and a 

 few Swifts in the crevices, whilst on the broken ground at the 

 summit the Rock Pipit breeds somewhat commonly. Mingled 

 with the sea- fowl breed innumerable Starlings and Jackdaws, 

 and a pair or two of Carrion Crows nest annually, the sable 

 hues of this bird, and of its congener the Jackdaw, forming 

 a striking contrast to the delicate plumage of the Kittiwakes. 

 The Hooded Crow has also occasionally remained to nest ; 

 and the highest portions of the cliffs are frequented by the 

 Peregrine, but, although the birds are generally present in 

 the season, one of them usually falls a victim to the gun, and 

 they have nt)t succeeded in breeding for upwards of a quarter 

 of a century until 1906, when a pair brought off three young 

 in June. 



The immense abundance of sea-fowl on these cliffs, and the 

 ease with which they can be approached by means of boats, 

 formerly led to their merciless slaughter for so-called sport 

 and to supply the exigencies of fashion, and for years the 

 locality was the scene of so much destruction that some of 

 the species were at last utterly driven away, and others greatly 

 diminished in number. This wanton cruelty was — as a matter 

 of fact — the direct cause of the passing of the Sea Birds 

 Preservation Act of 1869. The effects of that salutary 

 measure have been most marked. The Kittiwakes, which 

 had become extremely scarce, are now quite numerous. 

 Among the species which formerly bred at Flamborough 

 may be mentioned the Shag, the Black Guillemot, and the 

 Raven, the former of which some few years prior to 1844 used 

 to nest annually on the rocks, but now it breeds no nearer 

 than the Fame Islands, and there only singly and irregularly. 



The chalk cliffs attain their highest elevation of 436 feet 

 at Buckton Cliffs, declining thence eastward to 250 feet at the 

 point of the Headland, where the lighthouse is situated. 



From its favourable geographical situation and bold 

 physical aspect, the Headland of Flamborough is famed as 



