40 FALCONID.E. 



feeding them is requisite, otherwise they get a " taint/' or want 

 of full development of the feathers, which is evinced by a light 

 marking on the colour of the tail and quills, and what is not so 

 apparent, though of much more consequence, a weakness in the 

 shaft of the feather at the place. My informant believes this 

 taint to be apparent in the feather, in consequence of even one 

 day's " starvation." Not only are the tails of birds badly fed 

 tainted by a lighter marking than ordinary, but the wings will 

 not attain within an inch and half of the length they should do ; 

 a most important point with regard to their power of flight. 



Eyries in the south-west of Scotland, where Mr. Sinclaire has 

 of late years chiefly resided, have been likewise in requisition to 

 supply him with these birds. The inland cliffs of the finely- 

 formed mountain of Knockdolian, in Ayrshire, called by seamen 

 the " Palse Craig," from its being occasionally mistaken for Ailsa, 

 thus paid tribute in 1839. Others are: — at Ailsa; one, in the 

 neighbourhood of the town of Ayr; two, in sea-cliffs near Ballantrae, 

 the one about five miles northward, and the other, four miles 

 southward of it ; also, two in sea-cliffs to the north and south of 

 Portpatrick ; — in all seven eyries. Occasionally, both in Ireland 

 and Scotland, I have had the pleasure of witnessing flights with 

 these hawks. It is truly a beautiful and interesting sight, to 

 behold the intelligent bird sweeping boldly overhead, and follow- 

 ing its master, the comparative slowness of whose motion sadly 

 taxes its patience. It will alight on the ground, on a stone, 

 or other eminence, be it small or great, to await his coming. The 

 most convenient that presented itself, in an open space of moor 

 near Ballantrae, on one of the last days that I was so engaged, 

 was the back of a greyhound, which was accordingly appropriated, 

 as the backs of the setters very frequently are. The hawk was at 

 some distance when the first grouse was sprung and shot, but the 

 report of the gun brought it instantly to the spot, when it alighted 

 on the wounded bird. The training evinced by the falcon's thus 

 speeding to the place whence the report of the gun proceeds, is 

 highly interesting. . 



A covey of partridges was soon afterwards raised, and the hawk 



