i 
8 ORNITHOLOGY AND OOLOGY. 
age, and is the terror of the water-fowl, which constitute the 
greater portion of its prey. The breeding season of this 
species is very early. It commences building the nest 
usually on an inaccessible cliff, by the first of April. This 
is constructed of twigs, grasses, and sometimes seaweeds. 
The eggs are from two to four in number: their form is 
almost spherical, and their color is of a reddish-brown, 
covered with numerous minute spots and blotches of a 
darker shade. The dimensions of the only two specimens 
accessible to me at present are 1.90 inch in length by 1.75 
in breadth, and 1.85 inch in length by 1.72 inch in breadth. 
The following extracts from the writings of different 
authors comprise the most interesting observations made 
of this species : — 
“The flight of this bird is of astonishing rapidity. It is scarcely 
ever seen sailing, unless after being disappointed in its attempt to 
secure the prey which it had been pursuing; and even at such 
times it merely rises, with a broad spiral circuit, to attain a suffi- 
cient elevation to enable it to reconnoitre a certain space below. It 
then emits a cry much resembling that of the sparrow-hawk, but 
greatly louder, like that of the European kestrel, and flies off 
swiftly in quest of plunder. The search is often performed with a 
flight resembling that of the tame pigeon, until, perceiving an object, 
it redoubles its flappings, and pursues the fugitive with a rapidity 
scarcely to be conceived. Its turnings, windings, and cuttings 
through the air, are now surprising. It follows and nears the 
timorous quarry at every turn and back-cutting which the latter 
attempts. Arrived within a few feet of the prey, the Falcon is 
seen protruding his powerful legs and talons to their full stretch. 
His wings are, for a moment, almost closed; the next instant, he - 
grapples the prize, which, if too weighty to be carried off directly, 
he forces obliquely toward the ground, sometimes a hundred yards 
from where it was seized, to kill it, and devour it on the spot. 
Should this happen over a large extent of water, the Falcon drops 
his prey, and sets off in quest of another. On the contrary, should 
it not prove too heavy, the exulting bird carries it off to a seques- 
tered and secure place. He pursues the smaller ducks, water-hens, 
