THE PEREGRINE 105 



herself out with an upward trend of further along the cliff ; the eyrie it- 

 the body and then gives a few light- self, if on a big enough ledge, often 

 ning-like wing beats before getting constitutes one. Constant for life, the 

 into her swing. When disturbed from birds sometimes use the same eyrie for 

 above, however, she often flutters off two or more consecutive years, but 

 with a downward inclination, looking usually speaking they possess from 

 momentarily, for a bird of such impos- two to five alternative sites which are 

 ing appearance and noted grace of move- patronized in turn. These may be 

 ment, quite awkward and deranged. close together or, to go to the other 



The return to the eyrie (and if the extreme, a mile or more apart. Two 

 intruder is not too close the bird will tenanted eyries are seldom found at all, 

 not be long before re visiting it) is accom- near each other, the usual interval, 

 plished in a truly splendid manner, even in districts where the bird is 

 Instead of flying straight up to it, the abundant, being two or three miles, 

 noble bird mounts high in the heavens An unknown eyrie even failing a 

 and after a few preliminary circles, sight of the birds themselves may be 

 but passing down to and close past discovered by observing the feathers 

 the eyrie on each occasion, she climbs and other remains of the victims all 

 aloft once more. And now, as if on along the edge of the cliff. These 

 an inclined plane, she literally dives sorry mementoes extend on and off for 

 into her retreat with fast-closed wings, fully half a mile, but are thickest in 

 like a blue thunderbolt cleaving the the vicinity of the eyrie. . . . Con- 

 void. But just before the haven is trary to what most books would have 

 reached, flap go the wings, and out are one credit, the peregrine frequents its 

 stretched the powerful yellow legs, breeding haunt more or less the sea- 

 whilst she appears to alight with her sons through, and those falcons which 

 compact body thrown right back, one meets with during winter in lo- 

 though it never gives one the impres- calities where they never breed are 

 sion of any balance being lost. And generally visitors from the Continent, 

 often before resettling on her eggs, or immature birds, and not our resi- 

 she stands watching over them for an dent, adult peregrines, 

 appreciable time. As a rule no warier bird exists than 



Several recognized feeding ledges the hunting hawk, but on one occasion 

 are situated round the eyrie as well as -a red-letter day knowing a recog- 



