Field and Covert Poachers. 231 



amiss. Partridges, ducks, pheasants, hares, 

 grouse, plover each is taken in turn, and the 

 birds forage over a wide area. A barndoor fowl 

 sometimes supplies a meal, or a dead sheep (so 

 long as the flesh is sweet), thrushes, pigeons, 

 gulls, and a number of water and shore-haunting 

 birds. Once scrambling among boulders in 

 search of Alpine plants, a large bird of prey 

 was seen advancing on the wing. At a distance 

 the under-parts appeared white, but the bird, 

 coming directly over, enabled us to recognise 

 distinctly the dark bars across the feathers of the 

 abdomen. Its flight under these circumstances 

 was a sort of flapping motion, not unlike that 

 of a ringdove ; and its head turned rapidly in 

 various directions, the eye peering into the rocks 

 and crannies of the ghylls in search of any 

 skulking prey. Soon this silent hunting was all 

 changed. Above us was a ledge covered with 

 blood, bones, and feathers. We were close to 

 the nest. Just as we were discovered one of 

 the falcons went " whizz " past our face, almost 

 touching it. Then it gives a wild yelp, as in 

 one gyration it shoots upwards, and screams 

 round the crag. Again the bird dashes along 

 the cliff, and is joined by the female, who from 

 her nest has been quietly watching us. The 

 peregrine's outstretched wings measure three 

 feet, and it makes a velocity of fifty-seven 

 miles an hour. One at the above rate flew 



