410 Mr. C. Farman on some of the Birds of Prey 



district, obtained a pair of young Sakers from a nest situated on 

 a tree about a quarter of a mile from the railway-works at Shi- 

 tangick. He kept these birds in confinement for several months, 

 and they appeared to thrive ; but, if I recollect rightly, they ulti- 

 mately succumbed to the carelessness of native servants. 



The following year (1866) I had the good fortune to be re- 

 siding at Shitangick, and I carefully watched the habits of this 

 species. Towards the middle of March I observed two pairs of 

 these Falcons frequenting the neighbourhood ; and at the end of 

 the month I found one of these pairs were repairing the old 

 nest, from which Mr. R. Barkley, the preceding spring, had 

 taken the young. In the first week of April I found the nest 

 of the second pair, at a distance of about two miles from that 

 of the first. The nest was placed on a solitary tree, in close 

 proximity to which there was a little corn growing ; but the 

 general character of the surrounding country is that of wild un- 

 dulating moors, with a few shrubs at long intervals, and an oc- 

 casional tree or two. 



On approaching within about two hundred yards of the place, 

 one of the birds flew from the tree in an anxious manner, as 

 though leaving the nest, and I was much disappointed at not 

 being able to get a shot at it. However, I ascended the tree; 

 and when within a few feet of the nest, off flew another bird, 

 at which of course I was unable to shoot. I found the nest 

 quite finished, but no eggs in it. It was about eighteen inches 

 in external diameter neatly put together ; and, unlike most Fal- 

 cons^ nests, it was by no means flat, but, on the contrary, was 

 much hollowed in the middle in the form of a bowl ; it was 

 composed of large sticks at the base, the upper part being made 

 of smaller and more pliable twigs, and lined inside with tender 

 twigs, a little coarse gi*ass, and a few pieces of wool interwoven 

 together. 



On the 12th of April I again paid a visit to this nest ; but 

 this time I took a friend with me, being determined, if possible, 

 to secure one of the birds. We approached very stealthily and 

 quietly to within about one hundred and fifty yards of the tree, 

 when, as before, one of the parent birds left the tree. Bemg, 

 however, mindful of what happened on my former visit, I kept 



