THE OSPREY 99 



and was not only killed, but devoured. Frequently unlucky 

 pigeons came within reach of her chain, and were also eaten. 

 In consequence of these depredations, she is exiled to the walled 

 garden. One day I was altering her chain, and she flew away. 

 After flying three or four times round the house and garden, 

 she perched in a high tree and would not come down. I was 

 obliged to leave her at night, and in the morning the hawk was 

 nowhere to be found. For four days I saw nothing of her ; 

 but on going out early on the fi.fth morning, I saw her wheeling 

 about at a great height, with some hooded crows giving battle 

 to her. I stood out in an open place and whistled. As soon 

 as she heard me, after two or three rapid sweeps round my head, 

 she perched down on my arm, and immediately began caress- 

 ing me, and as plainly as possible expressing her delight at 

 having found me again ; whether hunger or affection induced 

 her to return, I know not ; though I rather fear the former, as, 

 on my giving her a rabbit, she commenced devouring it as if her 

 fast had not been broken since she got away. In feeding on 

 birds, I observe that she invariably begins by plucking them of 

 almost all their feathers, however hungry she may be ; and 

 when I give her a rat or rabbit, she always pulls off most of the 

 hair before commencing her meal. The only animal that she 

 appears unwilling to eat is a mole, everything else is devoured 

 without hesitation, and, when hungry, no bird is too large for 

 her to attack. Black-backed gull or cormorant is instantly 

 seized and plucked ; and one day, a Skye terrier going too near 

 her chain, she instantly flew at it, and, had I not come to the 

 rescue, would probably have killed it, as, perching on the dog's 

 back, the hawk commenced immediately tearing at its head 

 and eyes. The male peregrine is considerably smaller than the 

 female, and of a much lighter colour ; their nest is built in some 

 inaccessible niche or shelf of a lofty cliff or rock, and both birds 

 assist in the business of incubation. The quantity of game 

 killed by a pair of these birds to feed their young is immense ; 

 and, from their great courage and strength, no bird of the game 

 kind in this country has any chance with them. 



Occasionally an osprey ^ comes sailing down the course of 



' The osprey rare in Moray. Seen near Spynie 1850 (C. St. J.). See Natural HUtory 

 and Sfort in Moray, pp. 157-163, for an interesting account, probably the best in existence, 

 of this bird's nest and habits while breeding. Sad to say, Mr. St. John and a friend, Mr. 



