CHAP. xi. FLIGHT OF THE FALCON. 225 



rocks ; whilst he himself, with the remains of his 

 feast, which he bore along with him, rounded a point 

 of the cliff and disappeared ; and there is no doubt 

 that he ended his repast in unmolested security. 



"I was glad, nay proud, of this unlooked-for 

 occurrence, as I had never before, on any occasion, 

 had the pleasure of witnessing any of those noble 

 birds in a state of nature, or while engaged in 

 devouring their prey, and that too amongst the 

 rugged fastnesses of their natural retreat. In con- 

 sequence of having paid particular attention to the 

 movements of the falcon, I was enabled to bring to 

 maturity an opinion, the seeds of which were sown 

 many years ago viz. that, if painters, engravers, 

 and preservers of animals, would endeavour to get 

 lessons from nature, and work accordingly, the public 

 would not be so often duped as they are, by hav- 

 ing to pay for false representations and caricatured 

 figures, instead of the genuine forms of these noble 

 birds. 



" The falcon had no sooner fled, than the reality 

 of my own situation again burst upon my mind. I 

 had as little prospect of relief from passers-by as 

 ever ; and, becoming a prey to evil forebodings, I felt 

 cold and sick at heart. It was now afternoon, and 

 daylight would soon be on the wane. I had no time 

 to lose, for it was necessary that something should be 

 done to extricate myself, if possible, before dark. The 

 only way of doing so was by sliding down the 



Q 



