154 BIRDS. 



king claimed a hen for his hawks from every ' reek ' or house 

 having a fireplace." Peregrines are still not uncommon in the 

 islands, though they are no longer protected. Salmon saw 

 a pair in Copinsay in 1831, which were breeding in the most 

 inaccessible spot in the sea-cliffs there. This pair would most 

 probably be occupying the same site as that seen by Low in the 

 same island in 1774, as Peregrines, like eagles, keep to the same 

 sites for, probably, centuries, unless constantly disturbed. 

 (Vide Ootheca Wolleyana, vol. i p. 99.) 



A pair frequented the rocks on the west side of Rousay in 

 1883, although we could not discover their nest, and birds were 

 seen throughout the year there. Again, in 1888 we were 

 informed by the Rousay keeper that the Peregrines were again 

 in the same place that season, but he could not find the nest. 

 Mr. Moodie-Heddle tells us that he thinks only about a quarter 

 of the number of Peregrines remain during the winter that are 

 to be found at other times. 



Mr. Spence tells us that in 1882 he paid a visit to Copinsay 

 to try and get the eggs of the Peregrine, but was told by the 

 man who makes a living by taking and selling eggs, that for 

 some years back the birds had forsaken their eyrie there. Mr. 

 Ranken, however, tells us that the Peregrine again nested in 

 Copinsay in 1887, and they did so also in 1888 and 1889. 

 On June 5th, 1886 ; Mr. Halcro told Mr. Fortescue that he saw a 

 Peregrine fly out of some long heather on the steep south-west 

 side of the Waulkmill Bay. On reaching the spot he found the 

 apparent beginning of a nest, but it came to nothing. With 

 this exception, Mr. Irvine-Fortescue never heard of one 

 attempting to build in his neighbourhood. 



Mr. Ranken says that the bird* is still fairly plentiful in 

 Orkney, and he has seen young birds that have been obtained 

 on several occasions. Mr. Watt informs us they nest in 

 Marwick Head. 



Mr. Heddle tells us there are about four pairs breeding in 

 Hoy ; they are not disturbed, but get no more numerous in the 

 breeding season. We saw one at Rackwick in June 1888, 

 evidently nesting. 



Mr. Monteith-Ogilvie informs us that the Peregrine is common 

 about Papa Westray, breeding in the North Craigs of the holm ; 



