54 Contributions to the 



off a grouse (Tetrao Scotieus) just killed by him, and very near the 

 same place he came upon the female bird, also on a grouse. Al- 

 though my friend lifted both the dead birds, the hawks continued 

 flying about, and on the remainder of the pack, which lay near, 

 being sprung by the dogs, either three or four more grouse were 

 struck down by them, and thus two and a half or three brace were 

 obtained by means of these wild birds, being more than had ever 

 been procured out of a pack of grouse by his trained falcons. * 



In December 1832, one of these birds, which had her liberty at 

 Mr Sinclaire's country place, was observed to fly several times over 

 a pond on which a wild golden eye (Anas clangula), in the beauti- 

 ful plumage of the adult male, had just alighted, and was remarked 

 to keep watch on him during the day. At dusk, when wild fowl 

 betake themselves to their feeding haunts, this golden eye departed 

 from the pond, and was perceived by the falcon, which instantly 

 commenced pursuit, and after a short chase, seized and brought 

 him back to the place he had just left, when, by struggling violently, 

 he became disengaged from her grasp, and took refuge in a small 

 and shallow pond. Here again he was persecuted by two persons 

 who had witnessed the above occurrence, and though his wings had 

 not been in the least degree injured, he did not again venture to 

 take flight, but seeking escape only by diving, was eventually cap- 

 tured, thus affording evidence of the feathered being more dreaded 

 than the human tyrant, -j- He was now pinioned, and compelled 

 to take up his abode with the other wildfowl in the aquatic mena- 

 gerie, a place he had, in the unlimited freedom of flight, happened 

 to visit but a few hours before. 



In October 1833, a female peregrine falcon of Mr Sinclaire's, a 

 bird of that year, and consequently but a few months old, got loose in 

 the hawk yard, and killed a male of her own species a year or two 

 older than herself, and which had the power of moving at least a 

 yard from his block. She had him nearly eaten when a person en- 

 tered the yard to feed them, which he did once daily at a regular 

 hour. This female bird was " full fed" the day before, and had 

 never got more than one meal in the day. Montagu relates a si- 



* The same gentleman has frequently, when out shooting, obtained a single 

 grouse, which had been thus killed by wild peregrine falcons, but never more, 

 except in the above instance. 



t Birds of all kinds, when put into cover, by peregrine falcons, generally al- 

 low themselves to be captured by the hand, rather than again venture on wing ; 

 even the black-cock (Tetrao tetiix) I have known to be thus taken. 



