Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 1 (1877).djvu/309

Rh I was on the eve of calling out; but thinking that, should he not have observed me, my voice might startle him, and being, moreover, unable to render any assistance, I quietly walked back out of sight, anxiously awaiting his return to the summit, which, to my great satisfaction, ultimately took place. Upon asking him why he so recklessly risked his life, he replied that his passion for birds-nesting was so strong he really could not resist, notwithstanding he had already broken his arm three times, besides meeting with various other accidents. The place on which he sat was, he owned, most dangerous, and that when getting round to the ledge, had a tuft or even a few blades of grass given way, he certainly must have lost his life; but he was used to climbing and feared no danger. His reason for remaining motionless on the nest was that, mistaking me for one of the coast-guard, or perhaps a keeper, he kept still, hoping that I might not remark him, and was obliged to fix his eyes upwards, not daring to look down. I fully intended to give him a good "jobation" for taking eggs at all, but after the great pluck displayed could not find it in my heart to say much. However, he promised not to come again or touch a young gull at any place. The rents in his clothes were indeed a sight to behold.

The same afternoon I was grieved to hear that the Peregrine Falcon, to which I have before referred, had been killed by a farmer of the neighbourhood, from whom she had at various times carried away no less than twelve young turkeys, no end of chickens, and a pair of Ring Doves that were breeding near his house. I afterwards examined this same bird at a birdstuffer's, and found the remains of a chick in her stomach. The male (a very small one), I am glad to say, still remains in the locality of the gulls, and is constantly chased by those indignant birds; but I fear we shall have no brood of young falcons at Wembury this year.

On May 31st a nice Long-eared Owl was brought to a birdstuffer at Stonehouse. This species is very uncommon in the neighbourhood of Plymouth.