THE FALCON. 63 



other estates are doubtless similarly situated. 

 Only last summer a gentleman wrote to us 

 that he could not account for game being so 

 scarce on his shooting grounds under such 

 seemingly favourable conditions. Before we 

 had been three hours on the ground the 

 mystery was explained. We found a falcon's 

 nest. For these birds break up nearly every 

 pair of grouse in the breeding season. Be- 

 tween the months of February and July either 

 the cock or hen is nearly sure to fall a victim. 

 They seem to leave this part of Scotland in 

 October. We have never seen them between 

 that month and February, except once on 

 January 29. It is easy to know when they 

 return. If you are out on the hill with the 

 young dogs and one of them draws a little, 

 then hesitates, and then walks in to smell at 

 something, if you go to the spot you will find 

 the earthly remains of what was a few hours 

 before a fine specimen of 'Lagopus Scoticus.* 

 He wiU be lying on his back, with his head 



