FALCON. 83 



than in some other parts, and was formerly better known, from its 

 being made use of in falconry. It chiefly frequents our rocky 

 coasts; and preys much on the gviillemot and razor-bill, during 

 their breeding season. Col. Montagu informs us, that these birds 

 breed about Tenby, and are in plenty along the coast of Caermar- 

 thenshire. Mr. Pennant observes, that they breed in the rocks in the 

 Highlands.* The eggs are three or four in number, of a yellowish 

 red colour, marked with brovrn spots, and the female sits 18 or 20 

 days.f 



It is met with in various other parts of Europe ; in the northern 

 parts of Asia ; is frequent in Kamschatka ; wanders in summer to 

 the very arctic circle, returning south in winter ; is also in America, 

 where it is obser^ ed to be of a very large size ; at Hudson's Bay 

 kno>\n by the name of Papana-sew-kaycake ; has been killed 

 in lat. 66. n. and long. 58, w. and therefore most probably from 

 America. J 



It was observed to me, by Dr. Heysham, that a female, killed 

 May, 1781, in the mountains about Keswick, in Cumberland, 

 weighed 36:|oz. ; was 19 in. in length, and 42 in breadth; that it 

 is very destructive to game ; for near the nest were found the remains 

 of moor-game, partridges, j)lovers, &c. ; § is a very noisy and cla- 



* Tour in Scotl. 1769. p. 130. 



t Beckstein. 



X Lin. Trans. 12. p. 529. 



§ It has been mentioned to me, that one of these, in the vicinity of Hamstead Park, 

 Berks, a male bird, had been the tyrant of the place for several years, and was so shy, as 

 to elude every attempt to shoot him. This bird found no difficulty in attacking hares, as 

 well as other game, and destroyed numbers of them. At last, the keeper, being concealed 

 for the purpose of shooting a buck, and the bird coming within 100 yards of liim, the man 



fired, and with a single ball in hii gun, was lucky enough to dispatch him Dr. Lamb. 



M2 



