65 [ Vol. xxxix, 
It was observed that the cock-bird did all of the hunting, 
the hen always appropriating to herself the first and last 
catches of the day. The young were always fed by the hen 
only from 7 a.m. onwards at irregular intervals. The rest 
of her time, day and night, was spent on some boulder fifty 
to a hundred yards away from the nest. She never attempted 
to shelter the young either from rain or the heat of the 
sun, the latter often causing them to pant. 
Meadow-Pipits provided the main food-supply, but Sky- 
lark, Ring-Ouzel, Snipe, Song-Thrush, Willow-Wren, 
and Spotted Flycatcher were also brought. When quite 
young, the nestlings only received the hind half of the prey, 
generally completely plucked, and were fed with small pieces 
of meat only. Later the prey was brought less completely 
plucked and they were fed on mouthfuls of feathers, pure 
and simple, as well as meat. Later still the prey was merely 
ripped up and left. 
At about 10 days the young birds began to leave the 
nest, which got foul, and wandered into the surrounding 
heather, but to the end the mother mostly deposited food on 
the old spot. The nest got progressively whiter as the 
young shed their down. 
Occasionally the cock would sit on one of the boulders 
for a short time during the day, but was mostly absent. 
While the hen herself was feeding in the morning and 
evening, he would remain near her. The young took no 
notice of him if he flew over, or of his calls. 
Some of the photographs showed one of the characteristic 
attitudes of the hen when at the nest, 7. e. resting on her tail. 
Frequently she would stand so that all her weight was thrown 
on it. 
The notes of both birds were distinctive and varied, various 
calls indicating various actions. 
Mr. J. H. Owen kindly sent some excellent slides illus- 
trating the nesting-habits of the Sparrow-Hawk, Red-backed 
Shrike, Little Grebe, and Dipper. 
