WILD SPORTS OF THE HIGHLANDS 



by the hawk's talons in mid-air, and carried off to a conven- 

 ient hillock or stone to be quietly devoured. Two yearsago 

 I brought a young peregrine falcon down from near the 

 source of the Findhorn, where I found her in the possess- 

 ion of a shepherd's boy, who fed her wholly on trout. For 

 the first year the bird was of a dark brown colour above, 

 with longitudinal spots on the feathers of her breast. On 

 changing her plumage during the second autumn of her 

 existence, she became of a most beautiful dark slate colour 

 above, and the spots on her breast turned into cross-bars, 

 every feather being barred with black; her throat became 

 of a beautiful cream colour. With great strength, she is 

 possessed of the most determined courage, and will attack 

 any person or dog whom she takes a dislike to. H er poultry- 

 killing propensities oblige me to keep her chained in the 

 kitchen-garden, where no other bird, except a tame owl, 

 resides. The owl she appears to tolerate with great good- 

 nature, and even allows him to carry off any remains of 

 pigeon or crow that she leaves after she has satisfied her 

 hunger. One day an unfortunate duckstrayed within reach 

 of her chain, and was immediately pounced on and devour- 

 ed, leaving a numerous family of ducklings to mourn her 

 loss. 



A curious stepmother took them in hand, however. A 

 guinea fowl, whose mate had been condemned to death 

 for killing young poultry, took compassion on the orphan 

 ducklings, and led them about, calling them, and tending 

 them with as much or more care than their deceased parent. 

 It was a most singular sight to see the guinea fowl quite 

 changing her natural habits, and walking about followed 



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