BIRD-LIFE UPON THE CLIFFS. 2 1/ 



covered us upon the cliffs and discreetly kept out 

 of the way. There are keepers hereabouts who 

 would have shot this brood down without the least 

 compunction ; and we have often wondered since 

 how this happy family fared. It is not often that 

 a nest of Peregrines hatch out like this, for the 

 young are eagerly sought, and few broods along 

 the coast escape the lynx-eyed climbers who harry 

 every eyrie they can find for the sake of gain. 

 Were the birds left in peace the Peregrine Falcon 

 would soon become a familiar object all along the 

 coast 



The Kestrel, of course, is the commonest rap- 

 torial bird of these sea-cliffs. We have many 

 pairs breeding regularly round the rock-bound 

 shores of Tor Bay, and thence round the Berry 

 towards the Start There has been a nest to our 

 knowledge seven years in succession in the cliffs 

 above Goodrington Sands in a spot absolutely 

 inaccessible to man, a deep fissure where the rocks 

 overhang and look so dangerous as if about to 

 topple over at the least touch of a rope : indeed 

 large masses of these cliffs fall every winter. Then 

 there is almost always a nest on the little headland 

 that juts out into the bay near the Torquay gas 



