PEREGRINE FALCON. 303 



ing-place, and then lying in wait for and shooting the birds as 

 they flew to and from their nests." 



The breeding places which I have seen are in the island of 

 Pabbay, Berneray of Barray, the Bass Rock, and the rocks 

 at the head of IMofFatdale. Tantallon Castle rock, St. Abb's 

 Head, and the Isle of May are also mentioned as nesting 

 places. In Shetland it is not uncommon, according to Dr Ed- 

 mondstone and Mr Dunn ; and as it usually bears the name of 

 Goshawk, it is probable that J.Ir Low alludes to it as occurring 

 in Orkney under that appellation. In the northern ranges, as 

 well as in the Grampians, it is not unfrequently met with ; 

 but it seems to be more abundant in Peebles-shire and the ad- 

 joining mountainous districts of the counties of Selkirk and 

 Dumfries, than in most parts of Scotland ; so that although it 

 often breeds on maritime cliffs, this habit is not determined 

 by any predilection for the sea. In some of the northern dis- 

 tricts of England, and in Wales, it is also here and there met 

 with. The Isle of Wight, several parts of Devonshire and 

 Cornwall, Holyhead, and some other places of resort are men- 

 tioned in that country, in the low and cultivated parts of which, 

 however, it is very uncommon. According to Mr Thompson, 

 it occurs in suitable localities throughout Ireland. 



My friend Mr Hepburn has favoured me with the following 

 notes. " Some years ago, when I frequently rambled amongst 

 the wild moors in the northern parishes of Peebles-shire, and 

 about the head waters of the Clyde, I almost daily saw the 

 Goshawk, as the country people call the Peregrine Falcon, 

 hunting about in quest of Red Ptarmigans and Partridges, to 

 the former of which he is said to be very destructive. Mal- 

 lards and Teal also constitute part of his food. In East 

 Lothian I have not met with it on the Lammermoors, and but 

 seldom on the sea-coast. A gamekeeper in this neighbour- 

 hood, when going his rounds one day, observed a Peregrine 

 Falcon, after a rapid pursuit, drive a Pheasant dead to the 

 ground. On finishing a meal he departed ; and the keeper, 

 after fixing the carcase to the ground with pegs, went home for 

 a trap, which he placed near the dead bird in such a way that 

 nothing could reach it without either removing or springing 



