26 BRITISH BIRDS. 
The Peregrine is of a very wandering disposition, and frequently goes 
miles away from its accustomed haunt, often exploring the coast-line for 
long distances in lazy soaring flight, ever and anon being mobbed by the 
Gulls and Terns, or even the Carrion-Crows and the Hoodies, who seldom 
fail to set up an uproar as soon as it makes its appearance. 
As a rule the Peregrine is a comparatively silent bird, save when 
alarmed—and to some extent a solitary one; for although these birds live 
in pairs, still they frequently hunt for sustenance alone, and are seldom 
seen together except during the season of reproduction. 
Mr. Cordeaux informs me that “‘ the Peregrine is a resident in North-east 
Lincolnshire in the winter months. <A pair invariably frequent the dis- 
trict between Broadley Wood and Croxby Lake. They are mature birds, 
and feed almost exclusively on Wood-Pigeons and the common Pigeons of 
the dove-cotes, frequently showing great boldness in the capture of the 
latter. The female, which I have seen at very close quarters, and in the 
act of devouring a tame Pigeon, is a magnificent bird, the underparts 
almost pure cream-coloured without a spot. On the coast I have seen the 
Peregrine swoop at Curlews, but never successfully and never repeating 
the swoop. The power of the Curlew on the wing is so great that it may 
defy even the attempts of this swift-winged destroyer. Both old and 
young frequently occur in autumn, in September and October, on mi- 
gration.” 
The breeding-season of the Peregrine commences early in April, the 
young being often found in down by the beginning of May. Although 
the birds pair for life, the same nesting-ground is not always tenanted— 
other situations being chosen, seemingly at the caprice of the bird. One 
season it will be in one part of the cliff, the next in another, as though 
the birds had several favourite places and used them each in turn. Its 
nesting-sites are various: in some localities the nest is placed in the tallest 
trees, notably so in Pomerania and the wooded districts of North Germany, 
while in others it is amongst the most inaccessible rocks, as in our own 
islands; and in some countries, such as Finland and Lappland, the 
ground alone is ofttimes chosen as a resting-place for it. The pair 
of Peregrines that frequent the Bass Rock have chosen an admirable 
situation for their nest, which is situated near the summit of the stupen- 
dous cliff on the west side, where they have an almost boundless view 
and are comparatively safe from their only enemy—man. Dixon visited 
this nest on the Bass, and writes as follows :—‘“‘ So soon as we reached the 
neighbourhood of the nest the female bird dashed rapidly from it, uttering 
her harsh chattering cry as she went, which speedily brought the male 
bird upon the scene. As I was partly lowered and partly climbed down 
the face of the rock, the scene around me was an impressive one, dear to 
the heart of him who delights in nature and her works. Far down below, 
