Page:The peregrine falcon at the eyrie (IA cu31924084757206).pdf/42

 22 beak. The same kind of thing happened later on with a wing; in this case he removed the feathered end with one stroke of his talons. King was interested to see what enormous lumps the youngsters managed to swallow, and how when one had too large a piece another tried to take it from him, when a tussle ensued.

The next day, at a meal one young bird in trying to swallow a leg could not get the foot down, and hit it off just above the claws, showing the power of the beak even at this early age.

Nothing particularly fresh occurred during the short watch kept by, from 12.55 to 5.25 p.m, on May 23rd, except that after the Falcon had started the alarm after the relief party had landed, the Tiercel showed his daring by bringing a thrush, with which he fed the young hurriedly until within a few moments of the party's arrival.