PEREGRINE FALCON. 
FALCO PEREGRINES. 
Notwithstanding the number of young that arc taken for Ilawking-pui'poses, the quantities slaughtered 
by keepers, and the constant attacks both on eggs and birds by collectors, the Peregrine may still be found 
by no means sparsely scattered over the country, from north to south. 
In the Highlands of Scotland this species has numberless breeding-stations on the inland mountains and 
along the rocky portions of the sea-coast, as well as on the adjacent islands. To the south of Perthshire, 
though I have watched the birds as roving visitors in most counties where I remained for any length of time, 
I met with no nesting-quarters, with the exception of those in the cliffs overhanging the sea. I have heard 
as an old tradition, in more than one part of the country, that these Palcons nested formerly in the towers of 
churches ; hut I can give no more trustworthy authority. I noticed one circling round the dome of St. Paul’s 
a few years hack ; hut here, I believe, it is well known that a pair at times take up then- residence for some 
months, being attracted by the Pigeons frequenting the edifice. In certain localities it seems as if no amount 
of persecution would drive them from their favourite haunts. If one of the parents be destroyed, another 
shortly after joins the survivor ; should the young be removed, the following season eggs are sure to be laid 
either on the self-same spot or else at no great distance. Ever since I have known the Bass Bock, now over 
twenty years, I believe it has been regularly resorted to as an eyrie, though I cannot speak with certainty as to 
the last few seasons. Possibly the young may have flown on one or two occasions ; but every year that I have 
been in the district I learned that the nest had been robbed. I frequently observed the old birds on the 
adjacent islands of Craig Leith, the Lamb, and Pidra, and heard from the North-Berwiek fishermen that eggs 
had been taken from them; but I never caught a glimpse of any part that seemed to have been used as°an 
eyrie. The May, at the northern entrance to the firth, is likewise a well-known station ; I have repeatedly 
seen the birds flying above the gloomy caves on the south side of the island. The chalk cliffs between 
Bottingdean and Beacliy Head during autumn and winter harbour a large number of Peregrines ; and a pair 
or two now and then breed in the eastern portion of the range. They are, however, so well looked after that 
but few young birds are left long enough to take their departure. I have observed a stray bird or two round 
the Isle of Wight; and on two or three occasions on the Cornish coast a pair appeared to ‘frequent the rocks 
between Trcwavas and Porthleven; and, again, it was seldom that I visited the neighbourhood of the Land’s 
End without noticing one or two within a short distance of the cliffs. 
During the last week of October 1880 I witnessed a rathe'r curious performance between a pair of 
Peregrines in this district. I was on the brow of the hill above the duck-pool near the Tol-Pedn Penwith i, 
f unnel hole), when I caught sight, as I at first imagined, of a Peregrine in pursuit of some smaller Hawk on 
from the direction of the Land’s End. The larger bird was continually risiiv above the n 
dashing down as if attempting to strike it ; the latter, sharply altering j J course by a dr i ^ 
movement, avoided ever, swoop; and their flight, the whole time the, remained in sight, wasXpl"^! 
