Page:The Natural History of Ireland vol1.djvu/64

 feeding them is requisite, otherwise they get a "taint" or want of full development of the feathers, which is evinced by a light marking on the colour of the tail and quills, and what is not so apparent, though of much more consequence, a weakness in the shaft of the feather at the place. My informant believes this taint to be apparent in the feather, in consequence of even one day's "starvation." Not only are the tails of birds badly fed tainted by a lighter marking than ordinary, but the wings will not attain within an inch and half of the length they should do ; a most important point with regard to their power of flight.

Eyries in the south-west of Scotland, where Mr. Sinclaire has of late years chiefly resided, have been likewise in requisition to supply him with these birds. The inland cliffs of the finely- formed mountain of Knockdolian, in Ayrshire, called by seamen the "False Craig," from its being occasionally mistaken for Ailsa, thus paid tribute in 1839. Others are: — at Ailsa; one, in the neighbourhood of the town of Ayr; two, in sea-cliffs near Ballantrae, the one about five miles northward, and the other, four miles southward of it ; also, two in sea-cliffs to the north and south of Portpatrick ; — in all seven eyries. Occasionally, both in Ireland and Scotland, I have had the pleasure of witnessing flights with these hawks. It is truly a beautiful and interesting sight, to behold the intelligent bird sweeping boldly overhead, and follow- ing its master, the comparative slowness of whose motion sadly taxes its patience. It will alight on the ground, on a stone, or other eminence, be it small or great, to await his coming. The most convenient that presented itself, in an open space of moor near Ballantrae, on one of the last days that I was so engaged, was the back of a greyhound, which was accordingly appropriated, as the backs of the setters very frequently are. The hawk was at some distance when the first grouse was sprung and shot, but the report of the gun brought it instantly to the spot, when it alighted on the wounded bird. The training evinced by the falcon's thus speeding to the place whence the report of the gun proceeds, is highly interesting.

A covey of partridges was soon afterwards raised, and the hawk