100 THE BOOK OF THE OPEN AIR 



Princely murderer though the pere- different eyries I have found the relics 



grine is, it sometimes turns wanton of coots, moorhens, starlings, finches, 



as well. I have seen first one, then and buntings, not to mention beetles ; 



another, of a troop of cackling daws whilst even the kestrel, crow, and 



drop lifeless to its relentless, needle- chough do not escape its unwelcome 



sharp talons, whilst the tyrant van- attentions. And occasionally a leveret 



ished over the crest of a distant hill plucked from the fallow, or a rabbit 



without so much as glancing at its gambolling on the cliff, swell the throng 



brutal handiwork. of slain ; whilst rarely a peregrine, 



Aptly, indeed, have the Welsh chris- imbued one might suppose with a 

 tened the peregrine " hebog " (hunting spirit adverse to the customary habit 

 hawk), since scarce a winged creature of making a quarry on the wing, turns 

 comes amiss to it in the way of food ; poultry snatcher. 

 few are the birds that can foil its terrific Curiously enough until the actual, 

 onslaught. On the moors and deer- death-dealing stoop takes place, its 

 forests its diet mainly consists of grouse, neighbours appear totally unconcerned 

 black game, ducks, plovers and wa- at its presence ; indeed, gulls and 

 ders ; on ocean cliffs, immense quan- other species sit placidly on the crags 

 tities of rock and stock doves and most within a few feet of the dread de- 

 of the sea fowl (the larger gulls usu- stroyer ; at times even, as the falcon 

 ally enjoying immunity), puffins in sails round far above its eyrie, they 

 particular afford it many a dainty make as if to mob it. And though 

 repast. And many a tame pigeon great is the uproar when the attack 

 from the neighbouring dove-cots has commences, yet, once the victim is 

 lost the number of its mess at the sacrificed, peace is almost immedi- 

 talons of the peregrine falcon. In ately restored as if no such horror as 

 fact, on the Kent and Sussex cliffs a peregrine existed. But the quarry 

 amongst others, these, together with is not invariably killed outright. I 

 daws, partridges (for many a red- have one sad scene vividly painted 

 handed foray is made far inland), on my memory, where an unfortunate 

 and any other bird luckless enough jackdaw just caught and half-feathered, 

 to cross the bandit's way, constitute encumbered the falcon as she flew 

 its chief fare. But smaller deer are seawards. She dropped it, and flutter- 

 by no means despised : in and around ing strenuously the poor fellow, half- 



