THE GROUSE AND ITS ENEMIES 49 



male and female harriers are both extremely destruc- 

 tive to grouse, and relentless in their pursuit. I do 

 not justify the extermination which is so rapidly over- 

 taking this bird, in consequence of its nesting on the 

 ground, and being easily trapped beside its young, for 

 it is a devoted parent. I do not go so far as to say 

 that it feeds principally on grouse ; but I have no 

 doubt that the presence of this charming harrier is 

 highly inimical to the interests of both grouse and 

 partridges. The peregrine falcon kills a good many 

 grouse on some inland moors, but a long study of its 

 habits has convinced me that it feeds on many other 

 birds in a larger degree. I believe it prefers puffins 

 and other sea fowl to grouse. Of course I admit also 

 that this falcon kills grouse at every period of the 

 year. livery sportsman knows the truth of this 

 remark. It is not as well known that the peregrine 

 feeds also on small birds. Young 'red' falcons are 

 very destructive to young grouse, but they are not very 

 discriminating, and live largely on thrushes and other 

 small birds. 1 once crept within a yard or two of a 

 beautiful peregrine, as he was perching on a crag of 

 rock a thousand feet above the boiling waters of the 

 Minch. He was so busily engaged in dissecting a 

 fresh-killed skylark that he never observed my stealthy 

 approach to his stronghold. It has often been said 



