Robbers of the Air 



The keeper who showed it to me said he had never 

 seen such a poor larder, and drew up a schedule that 

 I fear was an exaggeration and at the same time an 

 injustice to the parent birds. 



The white-tailed or sea eagle is, contrary to a state- 

 ment to be found within the pages of a well-known book 

 oh natural history, much rarer than the species already 

 referred to. In fact, there is every reason to fear that 

 it has ceased altogether to nest in the British Islands. 

 The last breeding haunt known to the writer, in the 

 Shetlands, has not been revisited by these birds for 

 several years. It preys upon young deer, hares, ducks, 

 and fish, but feeds largely upon carrion. It has been 

 described as " somewhat cowardly," and this I can 

 readily believe, because I have watched an individual 

 mobbed and driven from pillar to post by a small flock 

 of seagulls. 



In the good old days of hawking the peregrine 

 falcon was a prime favourite and much in request on 

 account of its courage and docility, but the deadly shot- 

 gun has long since taken its place in the slaying of 

 winged game, and the noble bird is now only trained by 

 sportsmen desirous of maintaining a sentimental link 

 with the favourite recreation of their forefathers. 



A pair of modern shot-guns, bearing the name of a 

 first-class maker, cost a good deal of money nowadays, 

 but nothing comparable with that paid for a pair of 

 first-rate falcons in olden times, when a thousand 

 pounds was obtained for a couple of good birds. 



In a wild state the peregrine frequently preys upon 



29 



