ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 



41 



her rapid, gliding motions beautifully helmed by her 

 spreading tail, fully tended to confirm. The effect of 

 the sunset upon her wing-coverts and tail-feathers, as 

 she threw over to the light, was very curious and. rich, 

 and it is amazing what speed this rare and beautiful 

 falcon can attain : 



" My plumage bears the crimson blush, 



When ocean by tbe sun is kissed ! 

 When fades the evening's purple flush, 

 My dark wing cleaves the silver mist." 



LONGFELLOW'S Sea-Diver. 



When I first saw her, she flew within easy shot, but 

 my gun was not loaded ; and though I secreted myself 

 carefully in a hollow and waited patiently for her 

 various returns, apparently conscious of my presence, 

 she never again presented herself within range, nor, as 

 I have heard other naturalists remark, did she approach 

 the nest twice in the same direction. 



I have been fortunate in being able to obtain a skin, 

 shot here, and Mr. Dunn informs me that he has seen 

 a peregrine flying towards him round the side of a hill, 

 and that he has concealed himself behind the covert of 

 a wall, apparently well posted for a shot ; but that as 

 soon as the bird approached almost within range, it 

 caught sight of the muzzle of the gun with its wonder- 

 ful eye, and immediately shooting upwards, as perpen- 

 dicularly swift as if fired out of a gun itself, continued 



