Page:The peregrine falcon at the eyrie (IA cu31924084757206).pdf/44

 24 rocks above by ropes. Inside it one can comfortably lie down or kneel, but one cannot, of course, stand up. There is a comfortable mattress, pillows and a good Jaeger sleeping bag. There are hooks on the walls, on one of which I see I am expected to hang my watch, and all sorts of notices pinned up, one of which is a complete list of meals the young Peregrines have had since May 20th. There is also a diagram of the eyrie by J. A., with the rocks lettered for convenience in identifying positions taken up by the adult birds. To get into "Peregrine Hotel" it was necessary to crawl through the small door with my slippers on; I left my boots outside on the cliff under the hotel. It is quite understood by those who use the shed that once inside one must not use the door of retreat until relieved, or the Falcons would know that someone had been left inside, and he would thereby incur the wrath of Dr. Heatherley, our leader, who would probably expel the sinner from the band. It is certainly a novel dormitory, and as the Falcons do not put in an appearance it gives me time to reflect on possibilities. How if the wind gets up? as it seems to be dog. What is the choice between being blown out to sea like an aeroplane or to be rolled down the cliff to the same destination? Then I remember it is my birthday! What a jovial, sociable way of spending it! Then I think what a capital idea it is to teach people like myself, who go to bed too late and get up late, the value of early hours.

I am writing on because there is nothing else to do but to smoke and watch the four white, downy and sleepy young Falcons nestled together nearly in the centre of the eyrie. I am afraid all the fun has been on before I came on duty. It is now 7 p.m., and J have not yet seen the old birds. When we landed the pair were flying overhead, crying "Kek, kek, kek," and continued so while we were changing guard, and for ten minutes after my friends had left me, which I took to mean until the boat left. I did not hear them at all again until 6.35 p.m., and after that only occasionally, and then only one bird. Edmondson said on my arrival that the young birds were so full that if anyone touched them they would burst. Well, they settled down very comfortably altogether, with their heads towards the centre of a compact circle. From this they have never moved, excepting at first when pestered by the bluebottles