Ryper 



farmer's house for the nights we remained away 

 from the ship. On the first day we shot sixty 

 brace of these birds, and on the second day 

 sixty-one and a half brace. We had two ponies 

 laden down with this game, which we took back 

 to the ship with us, when the birds were divided 

 among the different messes on board. This 

 proved to be a treat for the men, as ryper make 

 most excellent eating. 



I bought a cast (two) of nestling Iceland falcons, 

 which I hooded ; these I brought back to Eng- 

 land with me, intending to train them. I had 

 them so tame that in three weeks after my 

 arrival home I had one flying loose and stooping 

 to the lure brilliantly. Unfortunately one 

 afternoon I lost her as she took after a wild 

 pigeon that passed the field where I was flying 

 her. I did not see her again, although I 

 drove all over the country-side in order to take 

 her up. This all came about from trying to 

 hurrv her on too much. I had but a month in 

 which to train her before I was due to return to 

 London. The other falcon I gave to a man who 

 kept her in a large aviary, where he moulted her 

 out for several seasons, but did not attempt to 

 fly her. 



I spent seven weeks altogether on board the 

 Bellona, enjoying every minute of the time. I 

 had to take a passage home in a Danish steamer. 



This boat was crowded with passengers, so 



295 



