FALCONS. 105 



LETTER X. 



1 As a falcon from the rocky height, 



Her quarry seen, impetuous at the sight, 



Forth springing instant, darts herself from high, 



Shoots on the wing, and skims along the sky." 



POPE'S HOMER. 



Peregrine Falcon Eyrie at Beachy Head Lofty Preci- 

 pice Beachy Head in the Breeding Season Jack- 

 daws Guillemots and Razor-bills Herring-gulls 

 Kestrels Waterfowl at Burton " The Duck-hawk " 

 Shooting a Friend for a Foe Unexpected Cap- 

 ture The Hobby a Miniature Peregrine Hobby 

 and wounded Partridge A good Specimen Occur- 

 rences of the Hobby in Sussex. 



THE sight of a falcon now-a-days as the au- 

 thor of the 'Fauna of Norfolk' justly remarks 

 " is somewhat like that of the rusty mail or the 

 monument of a departed hero the memories of 

 the past crowd upon the mind, when these birds, 

 now proscribed and almost annihilated amongst 

 us, were the favourites of ladies, and the com- 

 panions of princes." 



But even apart from romantic or sporting asso- 



F5 



