THE PEREGRINE FALCON 27 



tower in a noisy town, from which he sallied forth in quest 

 of Pigeons. Few birds are safe from this bold Falcon ; but 

 should he chance to miss his mark, he seldom follows up the 

 chase. I have seen him strike at Plovers and Ducks, which 

 by a sudden twist have eluded his talons, and he has con- 

 tinued his flight, as if too dignified to return to the pursuit. 

 It is an interesting sight to watch this graceful bird's aerial 

 movements. I love to wait for him amongst the tall heather 

 on the summit of the rocks, or halfway down a noble preci- 

 pice rising sheer from the sea, where, unobserved, I can watch 

 his movements with the greatest ease. How gracefully he 

 glides through the air, or sails round and round in ever widen- 

 ing circles, scanning the ground below him. Then sometimes 

 I see him dart swiftly down and alight on a rock, where he 

 sits motionless, or turns his head suspiciously from side to 

 side, as if half-conscious of my whereabouts. Every now and 

 then he half-opens his wings as if about to fly, and as the 

 shadows lengthen and darkness creeps slowly up the hill- 

 sides, he finally goes off to his accustomed roosting -place 

 amongst the rocks. 



I often linger near the colonies of sea-fowl to watch the 

 daring Peregrine. In some localities these birds are his 

 favourite food. In fact, a pair of Peregrines can generally be 

 met with in all the large colonies of sea-fowl. Often, when I 

 have been watching the habits of the Guillemots and Puffins, 

 this bold robber has swooped down like a bolt from the sky, 

 and carried off one of my little favourites before I could well 

 realise what had taken place. At his appearance the scene 

 changes as by magic. Tumultuous uproar and confusion 

 reign where a moment before all was quietness and peace. 

 The birds swimming on the sea dive with the rapidity of 

 thought, those on the rocks huddle together panic-stricken at 

 the dread visitor's presence. One of their number leaves his 

 little life in the air and is carried triumphantly off, and with 



