NOTES FROM DEVON AND CORNWALL. 288 
I was on the eve of calling out; but thinking that, should he not 
have observed me, my voice might startle him, and being, more- 
over, unable to render any assistance, I quietly walked back out of 
sight, anxiously awaiting his return to the summit, which, to my 
great satisfaction, ultimately took place. Upon asking him why 
he so recklessly risked his life, he replied that his passion for 
birds-nesting was so strong he really could not resist, notwith- 
standing he had already broken his arm three times, besides 
meeting with various other accidents. The place on which he sat 
was, he owned, most dangerous, and that when getting round to 
the ledge, had a tuft or even a few blades of grass given way, he 
certainly must have lost his life; but he was used to climbing and 
feared no danger. His reason for remaining motionless on the 
nest was that, mistaking me for one of the coast-guard, or perhaps 
a keeper, he kept still, hoping that I might not remark him, and 
was obliged to fix his eyes upwards, not daring to look down. 
I fully intended to give him a good “jobation” for taking eggs at 
all, but after the great pluck displayed could not find it in my 
heart to say much. However, he promised not to come again or 
touch a young gull at any place. The rents in his clothes were 
indeed a sight to behold. 
The same afternoon I was grieved to hear that the Peregrine 
Falcon, to which I have before referred, had been killed by a 
farmer of the neighbourhood, from whom she had at various 
timeg carried away no less than twelve young turkeys, no end 
of chickens, and a pair of Ring Doves that were breeding near 
his house. | afterwards examined this same bird at a birdstuffer’s, 
and found the remains of a chick in her stomach. The male 
(a very small one), I am glad to say, still remains in the locality 
of the gulls, and is constantly chased by those indignant birds; 
but I fear we shall have no brood of young falcons at Wembury 
this year. 
On May 31st a nice Long-eared Owl was brought to a bird- 
stuffer at Stonehouse. This species is very uncommon in the 
neighbourhood of Plymouth. 
