THE PEEEGRINE FALCON. 5 



of Dowlaw Burn,^ The Peregrine nested at Fast Castle 

 in 1879, and at Lumsden rocks in 1880.^ In 1881 it 

 had its eyrie in the cliff at Hawksheiigh, near Fast Castle ; ^ 

 and in the following year it appears to have nested at 

 Blakey.^ Mr. J. Campbell-Noble has informed me that the 

 eyrie was at Earnsheugh in 1885. On the 22nd of April 

 1886, a pair of Peregrines were seen by Mr. W. Evans, 

 Edinburgh, at Fast Castle, where they appeared to be nest- 

 ing ; and the young were observed there in the following 

 June.^ The eyrie at Fast Castle was again occupied in the 

 summers of 1887 and 1888.^ 



In former times this species had its home in precipices 

 on the banks of the Whitadder, and in the Lammermuirs, 

 as well as upon the sea-coast. Mr. John Wilson, late of 

 Edington Mains, the well-known author of British Agri- 

 culture, has informed me that, about the beginning of this 

 century, it bred every year in a high, red scaur at the 

 " Blue Braes " on the south bank of the Whitadder, a short 

 distance above Hutton Hall Mill, the nest being placed 

 under an overhanging ledge of rocks immediately above 

 a very deep pool called "Patie's Pat." The picturesque 

 scenery on the river there, near the old tower of Hutton 

 Hall^ — the ancient seat of the Homes and the Johnstons 

 — would then possess an additional interest to all lovers of 



1 Mr. Hardy's MS. Notes. 



2 Hist. Ber. Nat. Club, vol. ix. p. 387. 



3 Information from Mr. W. Ellington, Dowlaw. 



4 Information from Mr. John Crockett, salmon-fisher, Bnrnmouth. 



5 Information from Mr. W. Evans, Edinburgh. 



6 Information from Mr. W. Edington, Dowlaw, in letter dated tlic 20th of 

 July 1888. 



" One of the most picturesque seats on the banks of the Wliitadder, mentioned 

 in a balla<l celebrating one of Johnnie Armstrong's rides — 



Then they're come on to IluUon-ha, 



They rade that proper place about ; 

 But the laird he was the wiser man, 



For he had left na gelr about. 



Pennant's Tour, ii. p. 276. 



