Page:The peregrine falcon at the eyrie (IA cu31924084757206).pdf/28

 8 of a small bird whose few remaining features suggested a ringed plover but that the legs were black. We erected the shed on its trestles, lashing it to the rocks above by ropes fastened to a ring-bolt at each corner of the shed, keeping the young well covered up during our proceedings, which were long, toilsome and so thirst-producing that we collared most of the boatman's private stock of beer. On May 19th it was too rough to land, but on the 20th I moved in with my furniture a mattress, two pillows and a Jaeger three-blanket sleeping bag, as well as a Thermos of hot tea for the early morning, and plenty of provisions wrapped up in butter-paper and packed in a tin box, as I believe in doing things comfortably. I was rather doubtful about the wisdom of erecting the shed so soon after hatching, but trusted to the parents being accustomed to interference. There was, however, no sign of the old birds on landing. Halfway up there was-still no sign, and six greater black-backs, sailing overhead, looked ominous; but just as we were getting to the eyrie the Falcon shot out, screaming. This year the inside of the shed had been painted black in aid of concealment, and at King's suggestion we made use of ladies' veils to fill up the gaps in the look-out slit, and found it better than the fishing-net we had been using. My friends left me at 12.40 p.m., and fifteen minutes later the Falcon alighted silently on rock B, and after peering round anxiously, dropped out of sight behind it, from which she emerged a little later, and walked in a stooping attitude to the young and covered them. In settling down she tucked them in under her with her beak. As I was particularly anxious not to scare her, I waited twenty minutes before I made an exposure. She seemed 'quite at her ease, brooding the young and at the same time turning her head sharply in all directions as she watched what was happening to seawards. When I let off the focal-plane shutter she ran off, crouching, and flew away. She came back in five minutes, and after giving her another fifteen to settle down again, I ventured another exposure. This time she only turned her head sharply at the report, but afterwards the clicking, as I cautiously wound the shutter, made her more and more uneasy, until at last she got up and flew away. However, I managed to get four of her before 3 p.m.