RED-FOOTED FALCON. 
29 
the most part considerably less ; like the eggs of that bird, 
they are sometimes finely freckled throughout, and some¬ 
times like figure three of the plate (a variety which the 
egg of the kestrel is also subject to), much resembling 
eggs of the red grouse. 
Mr. Newcome of Hock wold Hall, well known as one 
of the few English gentlemen who still pursue the most 
interesting sport of Falconry, has obligingly sent me the 
following information, which is fully confirmed by the ac¬ 
count given me by Mr. Cockrane. 
“ I have been informed, on what I consider very good 
authority, that the Red-footed Falcon breeds in societies. 
An old Dutch Falconer told me some years ago, that once, 
when he was in Hungary, he was unable to procure any 
rooks at which to fly his hawks. One day, however, he 
saw at a distance vrhat appeared to him to be a rookery, 
and accordingly he repaired to it. To his surprise he 
found that the nests which he had supposed to be those 
of rooks were the property of a colony of Red-footed 
Falcons.” 
