Page:The peregrine falcon at the eyrie (IA cu31924084757206).pdf/80

 60 she turned round and, walking up the rock, stood still just where the rock behind made an ugly line. I was inclined to wait for her to walk a bit further; but it was well I took her, for an instant later she flashed away.

June 12th.—Rather a rough landing; the bag containing the spare plates got swamped. On getting to the top of the island I found three of the youngsters there, which did not look hopeful. The young females scuttled off under the rocks, but the male stood his ground and allowed me to put up the camera six feet off and photograph him. Then I turned the camera on to one of his sisters under a shelving rock; she was quite five feet deep, and testing the light there I gave her ten times the exposure I had given her brother. Then I caught all three, and put them back into the eyrie, where I found the smaller male. I blocked up the exits with rocks, but not very hopefully. The next day proved a very unfortunate birthday for me, as I had nothing to do but listen to the old birds luring the young farther and farther away to be fed, so I was very glad when King relieved me at 1 p.m. He reported three of the young on the top of the island. Again the young male stood his ground while his sisters hid, and having nothing better to do I determined to take him, but owing to the situation he had chosen I found it impossible to erect the camera. King suggested moving him, so putting on my gloves I slowly approached him, and still more slowly brought a hand to each side and then gingerly lifted and carried him to the chosen site. I photographed him there with the remains of a puffin at his feet, but was not very satisfied, as he declined to stand on his talons, but sat on his tarsi with his talons looking paralysed. Then as he behaved so well King suggested bringing the rest alongside of him and making a group. So, very cautiously, I seized the others, the smaller male being found in the eyrie. When they were all gathered together the male I had first posed looked so bad that in desperation I gave him a dig in the stomach, when he immediately rose on his talons to avoid falling over. After I had posed them King pointed out that the dock leaves made a very bad background, but on the principle of half a loaf I thought it best not to risk scaring them either by pulling the docks up or transporting the birds once more. There is no