254 FALCONRY 



CHAPTER II 



THE PEREGRINE EYESSES HACKING HAWKS TRAINING 

 GAME HAWKING RECORDS OF SPORT MAGPIE HAWKING 



THE peregrine falcon breeds in most parts of the United 

 Kingdom where a suitable situation can be found for its eyrie 

 and where it is allowed to remain unmolested. Wild sea-cliffs 

 or lofty scaurs on inland hills are the most common situations ; 

 but the sea-cliffs are generally preferred because of the abund- 

 ant food which is provided, both for the parent birds and the 

 young, by the dense flocks of sea-birds and rock-pigeons which 

 have also resorted to the same range of cliffs for breeding pur- 

 poses. The chalk cliffs of the South Coast ; rocky islands, such 

 as Lundy or Handa ; the headlands on the Welsh coast ; the 

 north and west of Ireland ; and almost the whole of the coast 

 of Scotland, are dotted with the breeding-places of the pere- 

 grine. Only one nest is found within a considerable circle, for 

 the pair which have taken possession of an established eyrie 

 will brook no intruder on their hunting-grounds. Taking the 

 young from the nest is an operation attended with considerable 

 difficulty and danger, and, if possible, experienced cliff-men, 

 who are in the habit of descending the cliffs by means of ropes 

 in order to take sea-birds' eggs or to gather samphire, should 

 be employed. It is absolutely essential that the right moment 

 should be selected for taking the young birds, and that moment 

 arrives when the birds are nearly fledged, but have not yet left 

 the nest. If taken too young the nestlings are very difficult 

 to rear ; are very liable to be taken with cramp, which is incur- 

 able, and, even if they survive, are almost certain to contract 



