LORD LILFORD ON BIRDS IN THE LILFORD AVIARIES. 131 
from each other in immature plumage ; hut when seen alive, there 
is a difference of make and general character of appearance that 
inclines me to hold them as of two distinct species. 
After what I have already written in connection with the noble 
art of falconry, it seems barely necessary to state that I have been 
the happy possessor of many of my favourite amongst flying 
creatures — the Peregrine, Falco peregrinus. I first tried my hand 
at training on a pair of Eyesses sent to me in my school-days by 
an uncle on whose property in the south of Scotland there had 
been an eyry from time immemorial; in fact his direct ancestors 
had been hereditary grand falconers to the Scottish kings for many 
generations, and held the manor on which these birds bred by the 
annual presentation of a cast of Hawks to the Sovereign. 
From want of knowledge, time, and good country, my training 
came to nothing ; but I made my birds perfectly tamo and 
obedient, and my early acquaintance with this species inspired me 
with a love and admiration which succeeding years and experience 
have maintained and intensified. To you, Gentlemen of Norfolk, 
it is quite unnecessary that I should dilate upon the attractions of 
falconry, as your county is one of the best adapted for that finest 
of sports, and is the birth-place of some of the most eminent of 
British falconers, whose traditions I trust still live and are 
cherished amongst you ; but having said this much, I cannot 
forget that Norfolk is the most famous game-preserving county 
in England, and on this account I make bold to urge a plea 
.against the destruction of the Peregrine. I will not pretend to 
deny that the Falcon destroys game-birds, but I would beg you to 
remember that it is only in autumn and winter that the Falcons 
visit your county, that they generally take their prey on wing, and 
that the natural instinct of Partridges and Pheasants leads them 
to conceal themselves as closely as possible when a winged enemy 
is in sight. I have no doubt that many of you have seen a Falcon 
stoop at and take one of a covey of Partridges on wing, but you 
will probably remember that the covey was flushed by human 
agency, and thus exposed to an attack that it would in other 
circumstances have escaped. I can tell you that I have been, and 
still am, as ardent a preserver of Partridges as any one can ■well 
be, that our valley of the Nene in Northamptonshire is annually 
visited by several Peregrines, that I never allow them to be shot 
