8 THE BIRDS OF SUSSEX. 



An interesting account of the Peregrine Falcon in Sussex 

 is given in O. R. (p. 106)^ in which reference is made to 

 its breeding-places in the high cliifs of Beachy Head and 

 Newhaven, and to specimens appearing in the western division 

 of the county, in the neighbourhood of Chichester, Petworth, 

 and Arundel, as well as in localities nearer to their breeding- 

 places, as Lewes, Newhaven, Seaford, Pevensey, and Rye. 

 One is also recorded as having been taken under the eaves of 

 a barn with a sparrow-net, at Saddescombe, near the Devil's 

 Dyke. Mr. Booth, in his ' Rough Notes on British Birds,' 

 writes that the chalky cliflfs between Rottingdean and Beachy 

 Head harbour great numbers of Peregrines in autumn and 

 winter. The ' Zoologist ' contains several references to the 

 capture of these birds, both young and mature : — 



In May 1849 three taken from the nest (p. 349i), afemaie 

 near Eastbourne in December 1859 (p. 6889), and one 

 killed near Arundel in April 1868 (p. 2059, s. s.). There 

 are also recorded in the volume for 1881 (p. 49) a young 

 male killed near Earnley, in West Sussex ; and in the volume 

 for 1883 (p. 114), a male in fine plumage shot near Hastings 

 in November 1879, and another male shot in Bromham Park, 

 near Guestling, about the same time. 



It is very astonishing that, considering the constant per- 

 secution by gunners of every description, and the frequent 

 harrying of the nests for both eggs and young, this Falcon 

 has not long since abandoned the locality, instead of which 

 I have been repeatedly assured that on the destruction of one 

 of either sex, its place has very shortly afterwards been taken 

 by a new arrival. This may do very well for a time, so long 

 as supplementary spouses are to be met with ; but it is 

 obvious that, with the constantly decreasing numbers of this 

 fine species around our coasts, the day will come, and indeed 

 is probably not far off, when the stock left will be insuf- 

 ficient to furnish the supply. 



