THE PEREGRINE 103 



by the merest chance, they never touch weeks. Single-brooded, if the first 

 in the eyrie, each egg being from half clutch of eggs is taken, a second will 

 an inch to two inches from its fellow, generally be produced after an interval 

 the clutch being laid in the form of a of three or four weeks, but usually in 

 rough square or triangle. They are another site ; and one pair of falcons 

 very beautiful and include every variety with which I am conversant have, for 

 of the kestrel's eggs. two years in succession, brought off a 

 One type is creamy-red in ground brood after the two previous attempts 

 suffused with rich orange-brown and had been destroyed, 

 purplish-red. Another is yellowish- On the south coast a full clutch 

 brown or leather colour with darker may safely be looked for on April 7 ; 

 mottlings, whilst a third is uniform brick exceptionally I have seen them at the 

 or orange-red. A fourth is creamy- end of March, but in Wales, the North 

 white, sparingly flecked with rust and in Ireland ten or twelve days later 

 colour or splashed and blotched with is the rule. Individual hens drop their 

 red ; and a fifth brownish-red mottled first egg on the same date year by year, 

 with a darker shade and finely sprink- no matter how inclement the weather, 

 led with numerous little spots almost Hole breeders are generally closer 

 black in their intensity. And on some sitters than those on ledges, and, in- 

 specimens patches of a white chalky deed, sometimes the former may hard- 

 appearance are noticeable. Eggs iden- ly be induced to quit at all by shouting 

 tical in size and coloration in the same or clapping : I have even known 

 clutch are rare, but the same female showers of stones dropped past a hole 

 produces a similar type year after for some time before the falcon inside 

 year. They are deposited at inter- could be induced to leave her trea- 

 vals of two and sometimes three or sures. Such cases are exceptional and 

 even four days and both sexes (though generally occur when the other bird 

 the female performs the lion's share) is away foraging, 

 participate in incubation, which for When flushed from the eyrie, indi- 

 one egg lasts a month ; for sometimes vidual pairs behave very differently, 

 the first egg is sat upon as soon as laid. Frequently the tiercel is on a ledge hard 

 The young falcons are white, fluffy by the brooding falcon and on danger 

 fellows in the down, and remain in and threatening he shoots out of the cliff, 

 around their birthplace for eight long often screaming noisily. This disturbs 



