xxvi YORKSHIRE—PHYSICAL ASPECT. 
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 innumer- 
able 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 always present in 
the season, it is uncertain whether they succeed in breeding 
annually, as one of them usually falls a victim to the gun. 
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 Bird 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, and the cormorant, which had been entirely 
banished, has now again taken up its old breeding quarters, though 
as yet only to the extent of a pair or two. Among the species 
which formerly bred at Flamborough may be mentioned the shag 
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 Farne 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 affording in the 
autumn a resting-place for many uncommon birds—such as the 
long-tailed duck, common, pomerine, and Richardson’s skuas, the 
shearwaters, grebes, and petrels occurring annually. 
