MISCELLANY. 
389 
cies of bird known to ornithologists by the name of the Peregrine Falcon , or 
Mountain Buzzard, was shot a few days ago, at Simonstone, by a game-watcher 
in the employ of L. G. N. Starkie, Esq., of Huntroyde, and, at the time of its 
being killed, was in the act of tearing to pieces a Hare which it had just seized 
upon with its talons. The weight of this fine object of the feathered tribe was 
2flbs. (sixteen ounces to the pound) ; and its measurement was as follows :— 
Extreme length, 1 foot 10 inches; width (the wings being fully expanded), 4 
feet 2 inches; and height, 1 foot 4 inches. The legs measured each 10 inches in 
length, and the thighs 4\ inches in circumference .—Bolton Chronicle , March 16, 
1839. 
Early Incubation of the Partridge.— On the 10th of February, a Par¬ 
tridge’s nest, containing fourteen eggs, which had been recently sucked by a 
Weazel, was found by Captain Bainbridge, in a field on his estate near Crimple 
House, Pannal. The number cf eggs shews that the bird had commenced laying 
about the middle of January, a circumstance rarely known even to the most 
experienced veteran sportsman, as it is not usual for Partridges to commence 
breeding till April or May.-— Id. 
Habits of the Kildee I lover (Charadrins voci/srzis , V/ilsGn). —The 
flight of the Kildee is strong and rapid, and Is at times protracted to a great dis¬ 
tance. It skims quite lew over the ground, cr plays at a great height in the air, 
particularly during the love-season, when yea may see these birds performing all 
sorts of evolutions on wing. Cn the ground their speed is such that it has become 
proverbial, and to “ run like a Kildee ” is to move w|tii the utmost possible 
agility. Their ordinary posture when standing might be called stiff, were they 
not so beautiful in form and colouring. When pursued over a large space, they 
are able to lead you from one spot to another mere than twenty times in the 
course of an hour ; and the more you. follow them the more shy do they become, 
until, wearied and hungry, as the Fox said of the grapes, you will probably begin 
to think them poor and insipid after all. 
Now you see the Kildee wading in the water, and observe how it splashes it 
about. Down it lays itself, and with fluttering wings, seems to enjoy the sight of 
the drops trickling over its silky back. Now dripping and almost soaked to the 
skin, it retires to the warm earth, to dry its plumage, and clear it of insects. 
While I was residing in Pennsylvania, the son cf my tenant the miller was in 
the habit of catching newly-hatched birds of every sort, to bait his hooks. I 
had rather peremptorily remonstrated against this barbarous practice, although 1 
believe without effect. One morning, I met him returning from the shores of 
the Perkioming Creek, with his hat full of young Kildees! He endeavoured to 
avoid me, but I made directly up to him, peeped into his hat, and saw the 
birds. On this I begged of him. to go back and restore the poor things to their 
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