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BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 



Shetlands, on the west coast of Scotland and the 

 surrounding islands, and in Ireland. A century 

 ago this species bred both in the Isle of Man and 

 the north of England, but it is now growing very 

 rare. It is on the verge of extinction in Ireland. 



Materials. Sticks, twigs, seaweed, heather, 

 grass, and wool. The nest is often a huge struc- 

 ture, from the fact that the bird adds to it year 

 by year. Specimens have been known measuring 

 as much as five feet across. It is very shallow. 



Eggs. Two generally, sometimes only one ; and 

 upon exceptional occasions three have been found. 

 White, usually quite unspotted, but upon rare occa- 

 sions specimens have been taken slightly marked 

 with pale red. Average size about 3.0 by 2.25 in. 



Time. March, April, and May. 



Remarks. Resident, but wandering. Note : a 

 yelping, or barking kind of cry. Local and other 

 names : Sea Eagle, Erne, Cinerous Eagle. Sits 

 rather lightly, and is much attached to nesting site. 



FALCON, PEREGRINE. 



(Falco percgrinus.) 

 Order ACCIPITRES ; Family FALCONID^: (FALCONS). 



Description of Parent Birds. 

 Length from fifteen to 

 seventeen or eighteen inches. 

 Bill short, strong, much 

 curved, and blue with a 

 blackish tip. Bare skin 

 round the base of the beak 

 and eyelids yellow. Irides 

 dusky. Head, back of neck, 

 PEREGRINE FALCON and upper parts generally 



