Local Ornithologist in Search of a Predatory Falcon That the falcon is indeed a king of birds was aptly demonstrated on Tuesday when the unique bird, who has presumably been occupying the Customs House Tower, maintained an attitude of royal contempt for the curious invaders of his lair and to. the deafening elamous of the noon-day bells which fearly split the car-drums of -the invaders, Last week a friend of Mr.
Wilkingon's told him that he had seen what appeared to be a falcon fighting with a kite near the Customs House, Mx. Wilkinson himself sav two falcons going into the tower a couple of days later. He promptly became excited and appealed to HMS. Suffolk for the use of a telescope and a young man to watch the tower for him. A young torpedo lieutenant, "technically known as "Torps" entered into the spirit of the thing with a zest and later gleefully telephoned Mr. Wilkinson that he had seen a falcon carrying in his talons another bird nearly as large as himself. The falcon dragged his helpless prey into the tower where he no doubt devoured it with much gusto, Mz, Wilkinson promised to get permission to go up and investigate, which he could not do until Monday.
"Torps" showed up with a length of rope under hi and a friend with a Tide Surveyor of the House implied that he was interested in the matter and together the four of them went up to the top of the Tower. Below the bell tower is a parapet extending angle which entirely cuts off the view of the ledge around the clock The falcon flew blithely by, paying the four men no attention what: soever, and hovered about the lower edge. "The Chief Tide Surveyor an oid sailing ship man and "Torps" is a new one. The old one knows how to tie knots that stay tied and 4 200 ft. drop means nothing to 0 w Yow-line went under arms and he merrily appeared over the edge of the parapet. His young friend, dis-usted, amused himself by taking ctures of Shanghai and did not appear to be interested in the slightest in the fate of "Torps."
Torps" went around two faces of the clock and signalled that hho wanted to come up, Mr. Wilkin" son and the "old sailing hand promptly brought him to the top. He reported that there wore many small dead birds, bones, and feathers fon the ledge but no eggs or signs of a nest. There were also curious chunks of wood about a foot in length which looked as though they probably serve og ballast while the falcon devours his meals. on the wind-swept and precarious ledge.
"Toxps" wanted to go around the other two faces of the clock, but as there were no ledges on the Bund Mr. Wilkinson decided that not only was it alittle too dangerous, but that Shanghai below might "not particularly enjoy the sight of a young man dangling high above their heads by an ie rope. So they all compromised by going up to the roof of the "North China Daily News" building and looking at the unexplored sides through the telescope. The falcon was. still making his nonchalant fights to and from the Tower but no nest was in evidence.
There are many falcons the Yangtze Valley but thi first one that has taken up any sort of quarters in Shanghai. If the falcon in question does live in the Tower he is of the young. nonbreeding type. But it is most likely that he lives somewhere in the country and uses the Customs House Tower only for a watch tower where he cart easily discover his breakfast -and swoop down upon The fact that he made no commotion, whatsoever" about iter the inquisitive strangers or the clanging Bells "would. seem further to. ent out that he has no family to protect tal dose mach eae who comes a very powerful bird inches long and has Aw order has been received by the Mayor of Greater Shanghai from the Central Government, forbidding the various provincial and ty governments to introduce taxes without first obtaining the: Central Government's permission.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.