1907-1908.] The Bird Life of an Outer Island. ly 



which occurred in the middle of the cliff. One penchant — 

 and perhaps it is the only one — which the Peregrine shares 

 with the Eaven is for a site which is sheltered by overhanging 

 rock. The motive, however, is probably different. The Pere- 

 grine certainly carries it farther. He will take a deep cavern- 

 ous recess — a cave, in fact, when he can get it, a thing a 

 Eaven would never do — and here not only was the ledge 

 overhung by a great mass of rock, but behind it ran a great 

 crack in the cliff wall wide enough to admit the body of C, 

 who lay there when the camera was set up and facilities for 

 movement became restricted. 



At the time, you may understand, these problems of nesting 

 habits did not vex us : our whole attention was bestowed on 

 the eyrie's callow tenants. Here, one knew at a glance, were 

 no sea-fowl, no children of the commonalty, but born nobles of 

 the feathered tribe, sires of the bluest blood. There was no 

 cringing, no aspect of terror about them ; they flung them- 

 selves on their back, spread out their talons, and bade us 

 defiance. C, however, had our supper handy, and we dis- 

 sected the Pufi&ns, and picked the tit-bits Peregrines love, and 

 propitiated them, and, like Oliver, they appealed for more. We 

 were surprised at their youth ; at the outside they were not 

 more than ten days old, which would mean eggs laid at the 

 beginning of May, or about a month later than the normal 

 date for inland Peregrines. Maritime Peregrines seem always 

 rather later, — such at least has been our experience, and per- 

 haps the question of food-supply would account for it, — but 

 a whole month we thought rather exceptional, especially as 

 possibilities of the birds having been disturbed or the eyrie 

 plundered were rather remote. For all their youth one seemed 

 to see behind their coat of down the promise, if nothing more, 

 of that sinew and muscle which makes the Peregrine, as Pro- 

 fessor Newton says, the most powerful bird for its bulk which 

 flies. 



After photography was over, my brother — such is his in- 

 quisitive nature — rummaged in some Puffin burrows which 

 undermined the very foundations of the Peregrine's domicile. 

 It was only in keeping with the insouciant air which Puffins 

 perpetually wear that we should find them encroaching on 

 " holy ground " in this brazen-faced manner ; but when my 



VOL. VI. B 



