9 
prove the identity of the pair that build 
or inhabit them. It is like presuming the 
the age of a man from his happening to in- 
habit an old family mansion. Mr. Glover 
informs us, that he knows an instance of 
a Starling's nest being invariably built or 
repaired in the hollow of a solitary ash 
during six and twenty years, though the 
old-ones were, during that period, fre- 
quently shot, anjl the eggs frequently de- 
stroyed. And we believe that the same 
observations are equally applicable to a 
nest of theGentil Falcon, which has from 
time immemorial, been found on Hun- 
stanton Cliffs. 
During the time of incubation the fe- 
male is constantly attended by the male, 
who not only provides her with abundance 
of food, but, whenever she leaves the nest, 
takes her place. The following anec- 
dote related by Mr. White, in his history 
of Selborne, will fully illustrate the perse- 
verance of this bird in sitting, and the 
strength of her attachment to her eggs* 
"On the Black moor estate, there is a 
small wood called Lofels, in the centre of 
c 
