. 



BRITISH BIRDS' NESTS. 109 



bluish-ash, coloured darkest on the crown and nape, 

 and faintly barred on the back and wing -coverts 

 with a darker tint. Wing-quills dusky, barred and 

 spotted on the inner webs with reddish - white. 

 Tail-feathers barred alternately with black and 

 dingy ash. Chin, throat, and upper breast white, 

 tinged with yellow or rufous, and marked on the two 

 latter parts with a few dark streaks. Lower breast, 

 belly, and under-parts white, barred with dark brown 

 and grey. Legs and toes yellow ; claws black. 



The female is somewhat larger, but similar in 

 plumage. However, the species is subject to a 

 great amount of individual variation. 



Situation and Locality. On ledges and in the 

 crevices of rugged inaccessible sea cliffs and inland 

 crags. In a few places in England and Wales, 

 and more numerously in Scotland and Ireland. I 

 know a scaur in Westmorland where the bird 

 frequently attempts to breed, but invariably gets 

 shot or robbed. In almost every great sea-fowl 

 haunt, such as Ailsa Craig, the Bass Rock, and 

 St. Kilda, will be found a pair of Peregrines breed- 

 ing amongst Guillemots, Razorbills, and Kittiwakes. 



Materials. Sticks, dry seaweed, heather, and 

 wool, or hair, bones, and castings, according to 

 some authorities. Our friend Mr. Ussher, who 

 has probably examined more breeding ledges than 

 any other man in the United Kingdom, says in his 

 " Birds of Ireland " that he has " never found any 

 building materials whatever brought by a Peregrine, 

 though she will sometimes lay in the deserted nest 

 of a Raven or Hoody Crow/' And our experience 

 coincides with this absolutely. In Mull my brother 

 once found a Peregrine occupying an old Raven's 

 nest, the rightful owners having been driven out 



