THE PEREGRINE FALCON. 9 



that of the Eock Dove. It searches over the open country 

 or along the sea-shore for prey, which it takes by suddenly 

 swooping down with a perpendicular or slanting descent, 

 or by direct pursuit ; but the Falcon always endeavours to 

 keep above the quarry until a favourable opportunity of 

 seizing it occurs. 



On the sea-coast it feeds chiefly upon sea-fowl and their 

 young, and also on Eock Doves. In inland districts, game 

 and Wood Pigeons form its principal quarry. 



The following places in the county appear to have derived 

 their names from eyries of this Falcon : Hawksheugh, a cliff 

 a short distance to the north of Bleakheugh, on the coast, 

 about a mile north of Burnmouth ; Hawksheugh or Castle - 

 holes Heugh, near Fast Castle ; and Hawksheugh, a precipice 

 on the coast near Cockburnspath. It is probable that Hawks- 

 law, 1 a farm in the parish of Coldstream, and Huxton, a small 

 farm near the Grange Wood in Coldingham parish, have 

 derived their names from the same source. A part of 

 Hallydown estate was known as Hawkslaw in 1*764. 2 



1 Called Hawkisland in a charter by Oliver Cromwell of the Lordship and 

 Barony of Swinton, &c., dated the 26th of November 1656. See The Sivintons of 

 that Ilk and their Cadets, by Archibald Campbell-Swinton of Kimmerghame, 

 July 1883. 



2 Mr. Hardy's MS. Notes. 



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