FALCO PEREGRIXUS. 115 



when immature, the " red hawk ; " the crown of the head and 

 cheeks nearly black ; the wing feathers are mouse-coloured, with 

 large oval white spots underneath ; the tail is ash-coloured, 

 spotted and tipped with brown ; the under parts — from the 

 throat to the bottom of the breast — are yellowish white, with a 

 dark streak on each shaft, the rest beautifully barred with 

 brown ; the bill is pale blue, tipped with black, short, strong, 

 and much curved ; the iris, dark hazel ; the thighs, like all 

 falcons, are long and muscular ; the tarsi, short and strong, are, 

 like the feet, greenish yellow ; toes, long ; the claws are also 

 very long, much hooked, and sharp. 



In 1865 I got a young one from a nest of four on the Island 

 of May. I had it a year. At first I kept it in a large box, 

 with iron bars, and fed it with all sorts of flesh, then I let it out 

 witli a long string attached to its leg. Ultimately I set it free 

 to fly about the garden. It grew quite tame, and flew to me 

 for food. I missed it for two days, but saw it on the third 

 flying about the ruins of the Cathedral, true to its instinct, 

 seeking the highest places. I cried, " Klee ! klee ! klee ! " my 

 usual call. It knew me, although on the highest pinnacle of 

 the east gable turret. It flew down and alighted on my head, 

 and thus gladly returned with me to the garden in North 

 Street, not far away. Afraid of losing it after this, I kept it in 

 a large outhouse ; but one day it got out, and although some 

 people saw it on cliffs near the harbour, it disappeared — perhaps 

 was shot. I am certain I could have made that bird an 

 agreeable companion in the fields, and might have trained it to 

 hawk for birds, it was so docile. As a proof that tame 

 peregrines, on regaining their freedom, can hunt for themselves 

 and fulfil the duties of wild ones, the Scotsman of April 28th, 

 1888, says:— 



" While the gamekeepers on the estate of Dunira,near Comrie (Perthshire), 

 were out the other day they shot a pair of peregrine falcons. One of them 

 had a small leather belt on each leg, and attached to one of the belts was a 

 very small bell, which showed that the bird was a captive at one time. It 

 would be interesting to know who the owner had been, and what part of 

 the country it came from." 



So it would, as the peregrine wanders far. On January 1861, 

 when Mr Berwick, farmer, Eeres (near Eden), was looking at 

 my collection of stuffed birds, a large sparrow-hawk arrested his 

 attention. " I shot a hawk last week at least three times as big 

 as that fellow," he said. " Where did you shoot it? and what 

 have you done with it % " — like an inquisitive young Miss, with 

 two questions at one time — I eagerly asked, as I had not then a 



