BIRDS. 



201 



On the coast further to the south it is also known to breed, and 

 had young in 1903, and they are there now (1904). 



Dr. Dewar also adds information as to several other sites at 

 inland localities within his district, the names of which it is quite 

 unnecessary to mention ; because also there are some collectors who 

 imagine that they are much rarer than they are, and therefore might 

 try to make them rarer still. 



As long ago as Don's time he tells us he had seen one used for 

 purposes of falconry by the servants (1) of the Laird of Balnamoon, 

 i.e. about the year 1772, and of one which had ''eloped from its 

 master on the 24th October of that year, and was killed on the 26th 

 at Mostyn in Flintshire. It had four heav}^ bells on its feet." 



Between 1854 and 1886 many Peregrine Falcons (and many 

 Buzzards) '. find entries in Mr. Small's registers, and are quite too 

 numerous to warrant my occupying space ^vith details. 



The north-east of our area seems to have been prominent in 

 historical eyries of Falcons. In 1793 "the Hunting Hawks "have 

 for ages been renowned in the Mearns ; and the noble family of 

 Falconer, now Earls of Kintore, and Hmdsfone, their ancient residence 

 in the county (Kincardineshire), may be stated in evidence. A pair 

 occupy an inaccessible rock near Dunottar, and regularly send ofi" a 

 young colony year by year to shift for themselves beyond the limits 

 of the parents' range {Black Booh of Kincardineshire, p. 397). 



In the south-west several eyries are known to me in the Loch 

 Earn district and in that of Glen Artney, as also westward to the 

 marches of Forth and Clyde with Tay. I also know of sites in the 

 south, and outside the Tay area within Forth — all inland eyries. 



In the south-east, i.e. in Fife, however, Col. H. W. Feilden is sure 

 that no Peregrine Falcons bred in that part, nor on the east Lomond 

 between 1850 and 1855 {in. lit., 5th October 1904). 



I am informed by His Grace the Duke of AthoU that the follow- 

 ing Peregrines were killed on his estates, with the exception of four 

 of them : 2 in 1875, 2 in 1876, 4 in 1877, 4 in 1878, 2 in 1879, 3 in 

 1881, 7 in 1883, 2 in 1884, 2 in 1885, 1 in 1886, and 4 in 1887—33 

 in all. In the regular vermin lists sent in for the estates these birds 

 are not separated from " Hawks " ; but none are stated to have been 

 obtained since the date last given. I trust therefore that some 

 measure of preservation has since been accorded to these noble 

 Falcons. 2590 "Hawks" were paid for at the offices between the 

 years named above. The largest number was obtained in 1901, viz. 

 344; and in 1896-7 the fewest, viz. 112; and the next fewest in 

 1895-6, viz. 212. 



