36 
FALCONIM. 
the aid of a pocket-telescope, I had the satisfaction of identifying 
his species with certainty. Again, on July the 13th, 1833, when 
crossing the ferry near the junction of the river Bann with the 
ocean, I was attracted by the near call of a curlew, and on looking 
round, saw coming towards us what at first appeared to be two of 
these birds, flying close together, just above the water. I was 
surprised to see the foremost dip in the river like a swal- 
low, fly on a short way, and then repose on the water : the other 
bird, which proved to be a peregrine falcon, now gave up the 
chase, and sweeping past us, alighted on the beach at some dis- 
tance. The curlew now finding it was safe, rose from the river 
and flew back in the direction whence it had been pursued. 
On the 12th of December, 1845, a wild “ falcon” was ob- 
served flying over the grounds of Tort William, near Belfast, 
towards the bay, where some days before a tercel * was seen in 
pursuit of a redshank or dunlin, for a very long time. When the 
hawk made a swoop at its “ quarry ” on the bank, the redshank 
dashed into the water ; but whenever its enemy retreated, the dry 
land was sought again, and no sooner done, than the hawk endea- 
voured to seize it. This proceeding was repeated on the part of 
both, until eventually the hawk succeeded in capturing its victim 
before it could reach the water. On the 1 6th of the same month, 
a peregrine falcon, — most probably the same individual, — as the 
visits of the species are very “ few and far between,” was shot 
near Clifden, on the opposite side of the bay, when carrying off a 
redshank. 
The finest chase by the peregrine falcon of which I have heard, 
was communicated to me by Bichard Langtry, Esq., on his re- 
turn from Inverness-shire, after the shooting season of 1838. 
On the first day, in the beginning of August, that he went out 
from Aberarder towards Loch Buthven, he observed an eyrie of 
these birds in the mountain cliffs on its western side. Among 
those which darkly beetle above Loch Cor, on the opposite side, 
a pair formerly nestled. The old pair were seen that day. One 
* Tercel is the name applied in falconry to the male, as Falcon is to the female 
of this species. 
