96 BIRD BIOGRAPHIES 



for one bright morning trouble came to 

 the little colony on the top of the hill. 

 I was sitting on a mound near their 

 home, when I heard a great rush of 

 wings, loud excited cries from the birds, 

 and a Peregrine Falcon dashed down 

 and struck down one of the old Lap- 

 wings ! Near by I found the dead body 

 of another bird, and all through their 

 attempts at nesting and rearing their 

 young they seemed to be dodged by 

 bad luck. These birds of the open 

 moor are assailed on all sides by 

 enemies, and it is really surprising that 

 so many are successful. 



