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THE
BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Birds! Birds! ye are beautiful things,

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With your earth-treading feet and your cloud-cleaving win

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Where shall man wander, and where shall he dwell,
Beautiful birds, that ye come not as well?

Ye have nests on the mountain, all rugged and stark,
Ye have nests in the forest all tangled and dark ;

Ye build and ye brood ‘neath the cottagers’ eaves,

And ye sleep on the sod ‘mid the bonnie green leaves.
Ye hide in the heather, ye lurk in the brake,

Ye dive in the sweet flags that shadow the lake ;

Ye skim where the stream parts the orchard-deck’d land,
Ye dance where the foam sweeps the desolate strand.
Beautiful Birds, ye come thickly around,

When the bud’s on the branch and the snow’s on the ground;
Ye come when the richest of roses flush out,

And ye come when the yellow leaf eddies about !

Eliza Cook,

ECE

BIRDS OF DEVONSHIKE

Enys

PEA Wii ake i) Sir y

EDITED
Mith an Introduction and short Memoir of
the late John GOatcombe

SNE

H. A. MACPHERSON, M.A.

Member of the British Ornithologist’s Union

t “WITH MAP AND COLOURED PLATE

IBRARIES

London :
Vr WeeGlbBINGS, 18 BURY STREET, W.-C.
Gxeter :
J. G. COMMIN, 230, HIGH STREE1.
1891.

[All rights reserved. |

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PREFACE.

THE exciting cause of this handbook must be looked for in
the omission of other Devonshire Naturalists to provide a book
of reference on the Ornithology of our County; an omission
that may perhaps be accounted for, by the seriousness of the
undertaking. The great size of the county, and the large
quantity of published notes to be explored, rendered the com-
pletion of the task more difficult than I had at all anticipated.
Accordingly I thankfully availed myself of the friendly co-operation
of the Rev. H. A. Macpherson, who, since the beginning of the
present year, has laboured assiduously at the improvement of
the text. I have received the sympathetic support of many
other naturalists, and tender my grateful thanks to all whose
names are mentioned in the text. Though it is impossible to
enumerate them here, I can not but express my special obligations
to the Rev. M. A. Mathew, Mr. H. E. Rawson, Mr. Mitchell of
Tavistock, Dr. Elliot, Mr. Nicholls, Mr. J. H. Gurney, and the
Rev. G. ©. Green of Modbury, for assistance received. I am,
myself, solely responsible for the revision of proofs, and claim
the kind indulgence of critics for country printers. The
classification and nomenclature adopted are those of Mr. Howard
Saunder’s list of British Birds.

Wm. E. H. PIDSLEY.

BuuE Hayes Houss,
BROADCLYST.
November, 1890.

vill INTRODUCTION.

The interior of Devonshire is to a great extent a fertile,
undulating region of parks and orchards, of deeply embedded
lanes and tall hedgerows, of dense coppice woods and graceful
hangers, abounding in moisture and possessing a mild and genial
climate. The most beautiful portion of the country is that of the
Exmoor district, which offers great scenic variety, Dunkerry
Beacon reaching a height of 1668 feet. In marked contrast to
all the softer characteristics of this county are the harsh features
of Dartmoor, a dreary upland region of moor and morass, the
uniformity of which is to some extent broken by cultivation.

Much of the wildness with which the scenery of Dartmoor is
invested, arises from the presence of the huge piles of granite,
known as‘ Tors,” of which Yes Tor, the most elevated, just
exceeds 2,000 feet above the sea.* Such a happy combination
of wild moors and highly cultivated valleys, wooded slopes and
terraces, as exists in Devon, may well induce many species of birds
to nest in one district or another, while for seafowl, there are many
suitable caves and breeding ledges all round the coast.

Most attractive of all perhaps, at least to Waders and Wild-
fowl, are the sounds, roadsteads, and estuaries supplied by the
indentations of the coast lines, and the rivers which flow to
the sea from Dartmoor. The Tamar rises in Cornwall, and the
Exe springs in Somerset, but the Dart, Teign, Taw, Erme and
other rivers have their origin among the bogs of Dartmoor.

Fresh water lakes are curiously rare. Cranmere Pool is the
largest sheet of water on Dartmoor, but it falls short of 700 feet,
in actual circumference. On the other hand, it must be conceded
that Slapton Ley isa fine sheet of water, and, from its position
in the neighbourhood of the south coast, is of as much avian
importance to Devon, as Breydon Water is to Norfolk.

* Yes Tor is usually considered the highest, but Mr. J. L. W. Page states,on the
authority of the ordnance survey, that High Willhays reaches an elevation of 2,039 feet,
or 10 feet more than Yes Tor(An Haploration of Dartmoor and its Antiquities, London
1889),

INTRODUCTION. ix
TI—FAUNISTIC CHANGES.

Or the faunistic changes that have taken place in the last
hundred years, the most unfortunate is the destruction of the
birds of prey. The Marsh Harrier, once happily numerous, has
been improved away, the Hen Harrier is all but trapped out,
and even the beautiful Montagu’s Harrier maintains its footing
as a breeding bird with difficulty. The Kite was never numerous,
but it has received harsh treatment, while the Peregrine and
Common Buzzard meet with scanty consideration. Ravens too
are scarcer than formerly, and the selfish greed of undiscriminating
collectors has wel! nigh banished the Chough from the precipices of
North Devon. The Rock-dove and Goldfinch have likewise
become rare. The majority of species show little increase or
decrease from year to year, but both the Starling and Stockdove,
which fifty years ago were chiefly immigrants in winter, now nest
pumerously within the area here treated of.*

IlI.—SPECIES INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED.

THE species, included as having nested in Devon on certain
evidence, amount to a no less number than 118, but ten of these
have only nested with us in rare instances.

Among the species which nest annually in Devon, the Cirl
Bunting, Dartford Warbler and Cornish Chough deserve special
mention. The Wryneck, Lesser Whitethroat and Reed Warbler
are almost unknown in Devonshire, and the Common Redstart is
rare in the west of the county. The Nightingale is also some-
what of anew colonist. These five species breed numerously in
the other southern counties, east of Devon, which appears to lic out-
side the usual lines of their migration. Great pains have been
bestowed upon the elimination of such species as had been
enrolled as Devonian upon unworthy or insufficient evidence, or

* The Pheasant was comparatively scarce in Devon a century ago. Polwhele states,
in 1797, that, in the country between Exeter and Teignmouth, Pheasants ‘had become
very rare till the late Lord Courtenay strictly forbade the disturbing of a Pheasant on
his several manors,” ;

x INTRODUCTION.

by open error. Hence the Gosbawk and Golden EHagle,* Pine-
grosbeak, Crested, Calandra and Short-toed Larks, Little Ringed
Plover, Harlequin Duck and some other species have been
suppressed : while, the Eagle Owl and Great Black Woodpecker
have been placed within brackets, and are excluded from the
census of the Ornis of Devon. Savi’s Warbler might have been
added to this with some show of reason, since Mr. Harting records
egos of this species as taken in Devon (Handbook of British
Birds p. 15) ; but this is considered as hardly conclusive, nor is
the Roseate Tern included. Mr. Gatcombe was told that two
birds of this species were seen in Plymouth Sound in April, 1874
(Zool. 1874. p. 4105), but there is no proof that the species was
correctly identified. Devonshire, judged by our present returns,
includes a total number of 287 species, and of this aggregate, 108
are breeding species, 42 are winter visitants, 25 are periodical
visitants, and 112 species must be regarded as waifs and strays, or
at least irregular visitants.

IV.—MIGRATION.

Ir is popularly supposed that many birds reside with us
throughout the year, but recent researches indicate the inherent
probability that the majority of birds are wholly migrants, or, at
any rate, partially so. We have therefore to face the problem,
‘by what routes, do birds travel to, and depart from Devon.?’ At
present, any attempt to decide this must be accepted as purely
tentative. It is quite true that the subject has long been
partially considered. A century ago, Mr. Laskey was as much
interested in deciding the route followed by the Swallows, which
he observed to leave the coast of Devon, as we ourselves can
possibly be. But the fact that birds travel to a very large extent
during the night, serves to hinder the elucidation of their
movements to no small extent. It is also to be regretted that the
observations of the Lighthouse keepers collected by the Migration

* The White-tailed Eagle, reported by the late Mr. Cecil Smith, as killed at Dove,
was originally recorded as a Golden Eagle, Science Gossip, 1872. pp.i15. 116. Ibid, 1874,
pp- 214, 283, Old traditions of Golden Eagles are equally worthless,

INTRODUCTION. XI

Committee of the British Association, for several years omitted
all reference to the Western coast of Britain, while the south
coast was never taken in hand by any south-country naturalist.
We are grateful, nevertheless, for their services, and the notes
furnished from the Eddystone and Start Lighthouses are extremely
instructive as far as they go. Studying these last, in conjunction
with the land notes of Mr. Gatcombe, we infer that many
Wagtails, Wheatears and other small passerine birds cross the
English Channel in spring and autumn, making the sea passage
between the coasts of France and those of our own S.W.
peninsular. Numerous Thrushes, Larks and other birds pass up
and down the Irish Channel in spring and autumn, and some
of these probably visit the Devon coast. But the greater number
of species appear to come from the eastward, or north-east, both
in spring and autumn, At the latter season, the Pomatorhine
Skuas leave their breeding quarters in Nova Zemblya, pass down
the North Sea, but instead of entering the Baltic, or following
the course of continental rivers, the greater number appear to
enter the English Channel, thence working westward to enter the
Atlantic, but appearing in force in Torbay and similar situations:
if heavy gales drive them from the open sea. The migration of
the Grey Phalarope, as illustrated by the facts brought together in
the article on that species, points to a similar conclusion.

Numerous species of Waders follow the coastline of Southern
England westward in their autumnal migration. The Little
Stint is a scarce bird on the coast of South Devon, but it recurs
year after year on the Warren at Exmouth, a favourite place of
call for many species of birds. Wigeon, Pintail and other wild
ducks in like manner work westward along our coast, upon which
they had possibly arrived from the opposite coast of Holland.

Inland routes exist also, indeed, a great highway of birds
extends from the Wash to the Bristol Channel, the birds working
up the river valleys, from North-east to South-west in autumn
and sometimes returning by that or some similar route in spring.

xii INTRODUCTION.

It may be remarked, however, that these suggestions are made
more witha view of stimulating future observers to strive to
advance the elucidation of difficulties by their own research, than
in any hope of deciding details finally. In this particular, it
may be well to point out that, though the Yellow-browed
Warbler and Redbreasted Flycatcher have occurred on the Cornish
coasts more than once, they have not yet been obtained in
Devonshire.

The number of American species that have occurred in
Devon is remarkable, including the White-winged Crossbill,
American Green-winged Teal, American Wigeon, Surf Scoter
and numerous Limicole.

V.—PREVIOUS WORKERS.

1790-1800. The first serious attempt to frame an account of the
Ornithology of Devon, conceived in anything like a modern
spirit, must be referred to the closing years of the eighteenth
century. The Gentleman’s Magazine for 1790 contains an
invitation for assistance in collating a history of Devon, in a
letter from the Rev. R. Polwhele, who framed numerous queries,
as headings for the information desired. Of these queries
the seventh related to ‘‘ Birds, perennial, emigrating, rare birds,
when and where seen in this county, such as the Nightingale or
Cornish Chough.” His enquiries bore fruit, and the sixth
chapter of the first volume of his History of Devonshire,
published in 1797, contained as explicit a description of local
ornithology as the materials at the author’s disposal rendered
possible, upwards of one hundred and fifteen species being treated
of, under the divisions of Land birds and Waterfowl. That his
essay was incomplete no one was more fully aware, than the
learned and versatile author. ‘ These notices’’ he writes “ are
short, and I am but too sensible, imperfect ; yet they sufficiently
prove that Devonshire exhibits an ample field for the pursuits
of the ornithologist,” a conclusion amply justified by subsequent
experience. Polwhele received assistance from the best naturalists

INTRODUCTION. Xill

in Devon, and the results are interesting. His original query,
regarding the existence of the Cornish Ckough in Devon, resulted
in the acquisition of such information as the following : ‘ The
Cornish Chough (says a gentleman of Barnstaple) is seen in the
Northern coasts of Devon (in lit). In 1790, a Cornish Chough
was shot at the sea-side by a son of Captain Gidoin of Modbury,
‘“‘T saw the remains of this bird (says Mr. Perring) after it had
been torn in pieces by a tame hawk. Never having seen a
Chough, I kept its bill, it was longer than that of the Common
Chough or Jackdaw, sharper, and of a very bright red colour.”
““T have seen (says Mr. Elford) the Cornish Chough near
Plymouth :” and Mr. Yonge of Puflinch, observes that ‘‘ Cornish
Choughs are often observed on the hills along the coast in the
western part of the county, distinguished by their different note,
and in pairs like the common Carrion Crow.”

1800-1815. The next writer to deal with the Birds of Devonshire
was the well-known Colonel Montagu. His ornithological
dictionary was not in any sense written as a local fauna, and
though it contained many references to Devon, he would have no
doubt resented any suggestion of local colouring, since he justly
claimed to be cosmopolitan. Of this work, published in 1802, he
remarks : *‘ The following sheets have been entirely drawn from
our own observations, and compiled from the notes of twenty
years search and attention to the habits of this beautiful part of
the creation, in most parts of this kingdom” (Introduction, p.
XLI). He had already read a paper before the Linnean Society,
i.e. on March Ist, 1796. On the 20th of December, 1803, a
second paper followed, referring to the Cirl Bunting and Dartford
Warbler, and on the 5th of May, 1807, he read a paper on the
plumage of the Hen Harrier. His enthusiasm remained unabated,
and induced him to publish a supplement to the ornithological
Dictionary in 1813, in which he wrote : ‘‘ We have continued our
observations upon the characters and habits of British Birds,
with the usual ardour and indefatigable research, the result of

XIV INTRODUCTION.

which has been a very considerable addition to our knowledge in
that branch of Natural History.”

1830-1837. Dr. Moore of Plymouth, next investigated the
ornithology of Devon. As early as 1830, he published a list of
the Birds of Devon in the Transactions of the Plymouth Institute
of which he was the Secretary. In 1837, he published supple-
mentary lists of the same, remarking that ‘‘The subject of
ornithology has long been pursued here, and besides my own
collection I have access to those of Lord Boringdon at Saltram, of
Sir G@. Magrath, Plymouth, of Dr. Isbell: of C. Tripe Esq.,: of
Mr. Drew, Collector, of Stonehouse: and Pincombe and Bolitho,
Collectors, at Devonport.”” A third instalment of the labours of
this excellent naturalist appeared in Rowe’s Perambulation of
Dartmoor in 1848. We must now return to the period of Dr.
Moore’s first list. In 1832, or two years after its appearance, we
find Mrs. Bray in correspondence with Robert Southey. Ina
letter written from the vicarage, Tavistock, on June 9th, 1832,
Mrs. Bray mentioned to Southey the name of the Rev. Thomas
Johnes, Rector of Bradstone, Devon, adding ‘‘ whenever you
honour us with a visit at Tavistock, we hope to take you to his
house, that you may see his beautiful collection of birds. These
he stuffed himself.” In her twentieth letter to the poet, Mrs.
Bray includes an account of the ornithology of Dartmoor sent to
her by Mr. Johnes himself. It is too extended to be here
reproduced, the more so as it is easily referred to in the original,
but one significant passage is the following: “The Tors of
Dartmoor, lofty though they be and desolate, are yet too accessible
to afford shelter to the eagle or its eyrie. Dr. E. Moore of
Plymouth indeed mentions a pair, which built some years since on
Dewerstone Rock in Bickleigh Vale, but he speaks from report
only.” Scarcely less interesting is Mr. Johnes’s remark upon the
Kite: ‘It is affirmed that Kites were common in this district
forty or fifty years ago. At present (1832) they are so rare, that
I have never seen one alive, and but one, a very beautiful
specimen in the collection of the late W. Baron, Esq., at Tregear.”

INTRODUCTION. XV

1839. In this year appeared the Natural History of South
Devon, from the pen of Mr. J. C. Bellamy of Yealmpton, who
dated the preface in December of the previous year. Bellamy was
primarily a geologist, and as an ornithologist he manifestly relied
much on the judgment of Dr. Moore, but he was a keen observer
of the habits of birds, and must have been a man of considerable
scientific attainments. The striking feature of the book is to be
found in the elaborate pains taken to describe the physical
characteristics of the region investigated.

1863. Mr. J. Brooking Rowe, who, like Dr. Moore, was a
Secretary of the Plymouth Institute, published in the year 1863 a
list of the Vertebrate Animals of Devon. Of the care bestowed
upon its preparation, it would be difficult to speak too highly.
To ornithologists, its value is augmented by the fact that the
catalogue of birds was revised by the late Mr. Gatcombe, to
whose experience the author expresses his indebtedness. Of the
papers and lists that have since appeared, the majority
were published in the Zoologist, which since its foundation
in 1843 has worthily received the support of most British
faunists. Their authors include the names of the late
Mr. Gatcombe, the late Mr. Stevenson, the late Mr. J. H. Gurney,
Baron A.von Hiigel, and some others.

Those relating to the North of the County were penned by
the Rev. M. A. Mathew, who with Mr. G. F. Mathew accomplished
most of the ornithological investigations carried out on the shores
of the Bristol Channel. Mr. D’Urban, of Exeter, and the
Rey. M. 8. C. Rickards have contributed a fair share of separate
notes to the same journal, but do not appear to have written
papers of any length.

mA INTRODUCTION.
OBITUARY OF JOHN GATCOMBE.

Of the numerous naturalists who have investigated the
Zoology of the West of England, no one ever deserved to be
more worthily remembered than the late John Gatcombe, whose
ornithological notes form so important a part of the present work.
He was born in 1818, at Knowle, in Somersetshire, the son of
Richard and Eliza Gatcombe. When he wa3 very young, the
family removed to Seaton in Devonshire, and when John was
about 10 years of age they removed to London. He was one of
twelve children, and the only member of the family who turned
his attention particularly to the study of Natural History.
He possessed great artistic talent, and as a boy always selected a
bird or animal as a subject for his pencil. He was always very
delicate, but eventually left London for Plymouth where the sea
air contributed greatly to the invigoration of his constitution.
A district so favourably adapted for ornithological observations
as Plymouth strengthened his natural bias for bird studies, and
his ample leisure permitted of his developing his tastes without
let or hindrance. He was only twenty-three when he discovered
some Richard’s Pipits, attracted to them by the recognition of
their strange notes. He was already on friendly terms with the
Rey. W. 8. Hore, an excellent ornithologist, between whom and
Gatcombe a life-long intimacy was subsequently maintained.
Much of his attention was given to wood carving and painting,
in both of which he manifested a remarkable degree: of skill.
One of the most beautiful of his studies of birds is the figure of
an American Wigeon, given in Dr. Morris’ work on British
Gamebirds and Wildfowl. He was equally generous in assisting
the Rev. F. O Morris, who writes that Mr. Gatcombe “ was so
obliging as to offer me, though an entire stranger, several designs
for some of the birds of my book, and I think I adopted every
one of them. Nearly all of them were extremely good, and I
added at the end of one of them, the Great Northern Diver, « It
is one of the best figures of a bird I have ever seen’ ” (in lit.
June 2. 1890). His delicacy of touch and accuracy of detail

INTRODUCTION. XVii

enabled him to excel as much in wood carving -as in painting,
and on the few occasions that his productions were exhibited in
public they received suitable recognition. Thus, when he was
quite young, he won the first prize, a handsome silver medal, from
the Devonport Mechanics’ Institute for his water colour drawings,
and another first class medal from the Royal Cornwall Polytechnic
Society in 1862, which awarded him another first class silver
medal for his drawings of birds from life, in 1884, together with a
certificate of merit for his wood carvings. He also carried off a
first class silver medal for his wood carvings at the Exhibition of
Art, Science and Manufactures at Devonport in 1869. But the
outdoor study of wild birds was his first love and continued to
occupy his attention up to the very close of his life. His careful
attention to the notes of birds, and pertinacity in following up
all doubtful specimens, resulted in his adding many species to the
Devon List, among others the Water Pipit, the Scandinavian form
of the Rock Pipit, the Blue-headed Wagtail, Kentish Plover and
Rednecked Phalarope. Perhaps his greatest triumph in personally
detecting rare birds occurred in 1858, when he fell in with a
pair of Alpine Accentors on the cliffs near Plymouth, and after a
search of three weeks secured both specimens of this scarce and
interesting bird. But he never lost an opportunity of examining
the specimens sent to the local birdstuffers, and was thus
instrumental in rescuing the Lesser Grey Shrike, the King Eider
and some other birds from oblivion. How persistently he studied
the arrival of species, even those that were well known, will be
understood by any one who considers the trouble involved in
making such observations as those which the Editor has collated
from Gatcombe’s papers in the articles on the Black Redstart,
Grey Phalarope, Great Northern Diver, and Greater Shearwater.
While thus intent upon studying birds, he was willing to advance
the cause of all other branches of Natural History. He did not
shrink from recording even a rare crustacean, while strange fishes
and cetaceans were sure to receive proper recognition at his hands.
Among the Cetaceans identified by Gatcombe, as taken on the

XVili INTRODUCTION.

coasts of Devon, must rank the Dolphin, Bottle-nosed Dolphin,
Rorqual, Risso’s Grampus and White Whale. In the department
of icthyology, he recorded local specimens of the Basking,
Thresher and Blue Sharks, Spinous Shark, Porbeagle, Pilotfish,
Pelamid, Blackfish, Boarfish, Swordfish, Sunfish, and Eagle Ray
with some others. He was also a competent botanist, but
ornithology was his grand passion and it is as an ornithologist
that he ranks among the most eminent of county faunists, It
was impossible for a man. possessed of such wide knowledge and
generous instincts as Gatcombe, to keep his information to himself.
It is true that he seldom published notes as a young man, and_
that nearly all his papers on Devonshire ornithology appeared
between the year 1872 and his death in 1887. Perhaps the
flight of Great Bustards which reached North Devon in 1871,
and which he duly chronicled had some influence in stirring him
to give to the world at large, those stores of information which
were always accumulating in his note-books. But he was at all
times ready to render aid to his fellow ornithologists. We have
seen that he assisted Mr. Brooking Rowe in compiling his
catalogue of Devonshire birds in 1863. He was no less ready to
assist Mr. H. E. Dresser and the late John Gould in their great
works. Mr. Dresser writes, “ I am exceedingly glad to hear that
you purpose writing an obituary sketch of the late Mr. Gatcombe.
I first made his acquaintance many years ago, when he came with
Mr. J, H. Gurney to look over my collections, and since then I
have been in almost constant correspondence with him, and I
formed a very high opinion of him as an ornithologist, and
especially as a field naturalist. He was a most accurate and
reliable observer and during the time I was engaged in writing
the Birds of Europe, he was indefatigable in procuring me any
information that I required respecting the ornithology of Devon
and Cornwall, and as you have doubtless seen, he sent me from
time to time some excellent field notes, and procured for me
many valuable specimens which are still in my collection. He
was also a very good draughtsman and often sent me paintings of

INTRODUCTION. XIX

some of the rarer birds, chiefly with a view to show the colour of
the soft parts. Quiet and unassuming in his habits, he was much
less known as an ornithologist than he deserved to be, and I shall
be very glad if your proposed sketch will throw some light upon
his career as an ornithologist. Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., was an
intimate friend of his and would Iam sure, be able to give you
much interesting information concerning him” (in lit. August
14th, 1890).

Mr. Gurney, with characteristic kindness, had already
communicated his reminiscences of Mr.‘Gatcombe, and forwarded
several letters addressed by that gentleman to the late
Mr. J. H. Gurney and himself. Two of these, selected for partial
reproduction here, may serve to show that Mr. Gatcombe was
much more than a iocal naturalist, and possessed considerable
acquaintance with continental species.

“ ANTWERP, Oct. 27th, 1868.
“My Dear Sir,

“You will perceive from the above address that I am in
Belgium. We left London yesterday morning and arrived here
the same night. I did not get your letter until Thursday
evening last, when I got your letter at my lodgings in Buckingham
Street. I visited Leadenhall Friday and Saturday mornings
early, but did not see anything that would suit you. Gould has
made a drawing of your Fulmar and it looks well with an adult
bird in the same picture, but he is still at a loss how to colour the
bill of an old one. What I meant by the bill of the Little Gull
being red was that the colour in summer is of a very deep blood
or what may be called black red. I believe it is described of that
colour by Yarrell and other authors. Gould showed me the
drawings of young and old, adult in summer with dark red bill,
in winter black with red at the base or corner of the mouth only.
An old one in the British Museum and another I saw at Cooke’s
in Oxford Street, altho’ stuffed for a long time evidently,

XX INTRODUCTION.

showed that the bill had been red when first killed. Gould will
not believe that they are ever killed in this country with the
black head, but allowed that a great number might be obtained
in the young or winter plumage. You ought to think yourself
lucky in getting your summer one, as they are certainly
extremely rare in that dress. I visited the market place here
to-day, but found only vegetables there, it not being market day,
but ina gameshop I saw one Ring Ouzel, one Mountain Finch,
several Wood and Skylarks, and dozens of Redwings with a few
Thrushes and Fieldfares......... Isaw nothing on the river
Scheldt but a few Gulls which were very tame; and nothing in
crossing the Channel from Dover to Calais, save a few Kittiwakes,
Razorbills, and Guillemots, two or three Gannets and some
immense flocks of Scoters; but on landing at Calais the first
thing which attracted my attention was a pair of Crested Larks,
which pitched on the opposite quay to where I was. A great
many Larks were apparently crossing the channel. A long way
from land a Purple Sandpiper or Phalarope crossed the steamer’s

The next letter was written from Paris on November Ist,
1868, and thus commences: ‘“ After posting my last letter to
you, we started for Brussels, which we found to be a
very fine city, though not to be compared with Paris in
any way. It contains, besides some fine picture galleries,
a capital museum of Natural History, and a very nice poultry
market. In the museum I was delighted to find a specimen of
the Great Auk, tho’ badly stuffed, and I fear rather moth-eaten
about the tail, nevertheless they seem to know its value as it is
enclosed under a glass shade inside the regular glazed cases which
contain the other birds. ‘This I find is the case with all the very
rare birds in the British Museum. I made a sketch of this bird,
as I did of the one at Neuchatel. The Museum also contains
Little Gulls in every stage of plumage, and the adult with
black head appears to have had a dark red bill. It is particularly
rich in skeletons and stuffed specimens of the Cetacea, one or two

INTRODUCTION. Xxi

of which measured more than 70 feet. In the market I bought
a very fine Great Shrike but which I am sorry to say was in moult
and very stale, but I managed to make a tolerable skin of it. It
was too far gone to note the sex, which I am very sorry for, as it
had two spots on the wings, which Mr. Gould says is peculiar to
the male only. On Friday we visited Waterloo, and in the church
of the village I was surprised to see a single Swallow hawking
after flies. . .. Before I left Antwerp I walked along the banks
of the Scheldt by the reeds, but saw nothing save a few Hooded
Crows, Gulls and Lapwivgs. The market of Brussels contained
the following birds: Wigeon, Shovellers, Scaup, Teal, Pintail,
Spotted Redshanks and common, Greenshanks, Ruffs, Purres, Ring
Dotterel, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Fieldfares, Redwings, Mountain
Finches, Tree Sparrows, Grouse, Pheasants, Woodcocks, Partridges,
Jays, Green Woodpeckers, Golden and Grey Plovers, Cormorants,
Coots and one or two female Goldeneyes, besides a host of small
birds: such as Sparrows, Larks, Chaffinches.... Before
leaving London I spent a very pleasant evening with Mr. Bond,
you would like him better than anyone.”

Present limits of space unluckily render it impossible to
quote either the remainder of Mr. Gatcombe’s letters
to Mr. Gurney, or those which his old friend and constant
correspondent the Rev. G. Robinson of Armagh handsomely
offered for the purpose of thiswork. His relative, Mr.
Picthall, to whose kindness the LEditor is indebted
for much information regarding Mr. Gatcombe, remarks
that Mr. Gatcombe was at no period of his life a strong
man. For the last nine years of his life he suffered from Vertigo
which would seize him in the street or in church. For six years
prior to his death, on the 28th of April, 1887, it caused him to
be perfectly deaf, which obliged him to have every word written
for him. But his powers of endurance, and enthusiasm in the
cause of Natural History, enabled him at a late period of his life
to continue his rambles and even to extend his ornithological

XXil INTRODUCTION.

studies. He was fond of pets, and kept two tame Buzzards in his
garden for a number of years, but he was happiest when studying
wild birds in their natural haunts ; latterly at any rate, he kept a
running diary of the species met with from day to day. Full of
sympathy with animals, he was intolerant of wanton interference
with breeding birds, but to oblige a friend with a specimen of a
Black Redstart or Cirl Bunting or some other uncommon
specimen was always a pleasurable interest. Endeared to his
personal friends by his singular unselfishness, he was ever ready to
assist brother naturalists, with information or with specimens.
For himself, to examine a Dotterel killed on Dartmoor or to
catch a glimpse of a Richard’s Pipit on the cliffs near Plymouth
fully gratified his ambition and rendered him a happy man.

SLAPTON LEY.

Suapron Ley is a fresh-water lake, comprising an area of about
400 acres, situate about mid-way between Dartmouth and Kings-
bridge on the south coast of the county. It is the finest and
largest lake in the South of England ; it is divided into two parts,
called the Higher and Lower Ley, by a stone bridge, the road
over which leads to the small village of Slapton, about a quarter of
a mile distant. The Higber Ley grows a large quantity of
reeds averaging from six to seven feet in height, these are
annually cut and tied in bundles, and sold for thatching purposes,
&c. Of these two divisions, the Lower Ley is by far the largest
and most important, extending from the above mentioned bridge,
which is nearly opposite the Royal Sands Hotel, to the small
fishing village of Torcross, about a mile distant When visiting
the Ley on the Ist of March, 1890, I was struck with the large
numbers of Wild-fowl which were swimming about on its
transparent waters, and amounting to some 10,000 birds, on a
rough estimate, and amongst which I distinguished the Tufted
Duck, Teal, Wigeon, Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Water Rail.
Some few acres of this, the Lower Ley, are covered with reeds,
which are never cut but preserved as the breeding grounds of the
Wild-fowl, and constitute the favourite resort of the Bittern
which may be seen almost every winter, standing motionless
among the reeds watching for its prey. Whilst at Slapton, the
landlord of the Royal Sands Hotel, showed me the very spot
where, only two days previously, he had shot a very fine dark-
plumaged specimen. W. V. Toll, Esq., who resides near the Ley,
told me that he shot two Bitterns this year (1890), onein January
and the other in February ; he also informed me that he has seen
dozens on the Ley during the time of his residence in che
neighbourhood. Through that gentleman’s kindness, I had the
pleasure of inspecting his collection of Birds amongst which was

XXxiv SLAPTON LEY.

a splendid specimen of the Bean Goose, which he informed me
was one of three which he was fortunate enough to shoot out of a
flock of six seen by him on the Ley.

Amongst uncommon birds, in the same collection were a pair
of Shovellers, a female Gadwall, Pintail, Tufted and Golden-eye
Ducks, Hoopoe, Green Sandpipers, Grey Phalaropes and an
almost pure white variety of the Pied Wagtail. On visiting
Stokeleigh House, the shooting box of Sir Lydstone Newman,
Bart., (the owner of the Ley) which is situate in a picturesque
valley overlooking the English Channel, and about a mile and
a quarter distant from the Ley, I was shewn specimens of the
Brent Goose, Osprey, Great Northern Diver, Long-eared Owls and
several varieties of the Common Pheasant, all of which were shot
on the Ley or in its immediate neighbourhood.

The Coot breeds on the Ley in hundreds and the Moorhen in
less numbers. On conversing with an old boatman, who has
known and worked on the Ley for a great number of years, he
informed me that, until within the last two or three years, no
~ Teal were to be seen there in the summer, but in the summer of
1888, a pair or two remained to breed, and in the following year
several broods of young birds were hatched. He also told me
that he had known a pair or two of Wigeon remain on the Ley
the whole summer, but this, I should say, would probably be due
to the birds having met with an accident which would prevent
their migrating to the north, where they breed.

This lake is divided from the sea by a ridge of sand from
between two and three hundred yards wide, and over this the
coach runs daily from Dartmouth to Kingsbridge. Studded here
and there are low bushes of whin and -bramble, amongst which
numbers of Stonechats and Whinchats nest, the Wheatear breeds
on the sands and the Ringed Plover nests on the shore of the sea.
Flocks of Gulls may be observed flying backwards and forwards
from the sea to the Ley, and the Cormorant may occasionally be
seen. The Lower Ley abounds in Pike and affords excellent sport

SLAPTON LEY. XXV

for the lovers of Angling, and to which spot Anglers flock from
all parts of England. The fishing and wild-fowl are strictly
preserved, and all information respecting the same may be
obtained from the proprietor of the Slapton Sands Hotel, which
is situate on the sands.

Slapton Ley has preserved its natural features intact since
Mr. Laskey visited it in 1796. He writes that: “*This sheet of
water occupies some hundreds of acres, and has no visible outlet,
draining itself through the sand of the beach into the sea, which
is scarcely distant a stone’s throw. It is well stored with the
perca fluviatilis, perch, lucius esox, pike, cyprinus rutilus, roach,
and immense quantities of the anguilla, or eel, and the fulic?, bald
Coot, in abundance, finding here a safe breeding-place among the
vast quantities of the «wrwndo or reed, here called Sea-reeds. In
winter every kind of wild-fowl is to be found on its surface in the
greatest plenty’ (Gentleman’s Magazine, vol. 66. part I. p. 276),

Another notice of Slapton Ley, written by “ H.V.D,’ and
accompanied by an outline of the lake will be found in the
Magazine of Natural History, vol. III. p. 396. Sir Lydstone
Newman, Bart., has kindly furnished me with a list of 44 species
of Birds, all represented in his collection by specimens shot at
Slapton Ley. This catalogue includes the Cormorant, Shag,
Gannet, Heron, Bittern, Little Bittern, Bean Goose, White-
fronted Goose, Brent Goose, Whooper Swan, Sheldrake, Wild
Duck, Gadwall, Shoveller, Pintail, Teal, Wigeon, Pochard,.
Ferruginous Duck, Tufted, Scaup, Golden-eye, Long-tailed Duck,
Goosander, Red-breasted Merganser, Smew, Spotted Crake, Water
Rail, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Herring
Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull
Kittiwake, Great Northern Diver, Black-throated Diver, Red-
throated Diver, Great-crested Grebe, Red-necked Grebe,
Sclavonian, Eared and Little Grebes.

LUNDY ISLAND.

AN early description of Lundy Island is furnished by a writer,
who contributed a ‘ Natural History of Biddeford or By-the Ford ’
to the Gentleman’s Magazine of 1755. After treating briefly of
some local features, with the naive that “the Aurora Borealis -is
very common” in the parish, the historian informs us that: in
Bideford Bay “lies the island of Lundy, which is five miles -long
and two broad, but so incompassed with rocks, that it is accessible
only in one part..... The island is four leagues distant
from the nearest land, but it abounds with fine springs of fresh
water. The soi! in the southern part is good, but the northern
part’ is rocky. There is, among others, one craggy pyramidical
rock; so remarkable for the number of rats harbouring about it,
that it is called Rat Island. The whole island abounds with

rabbits and wild-fowl” (Gentleman’s Magazine, 1755. pp. 447-8).
Polwhele, writing in 1797, quotes the statement of Wescote
that ‘‘ The ‘greatest profit that is to be made of Lundy Island is
by hogs, coneys, and sea-fowl. The last it seems were so prolific
that in breeding time you could scarcely walk in- some places
without treading upon eggs ”’ (History of Devon. vol. I. p. 109).

_ The Island of Lundy has been visited by Mr. Howard
Saunders, Mr. J. E. Harting, and-Mr. H. E. Rawson, but. no
professed ornithologist appears to have systematically investigated
its bird-life, at least the Editor has failed to find any published
account of its bird-life other than that included in the excellent
History of Lundy Island supplied by Mr. J. R. Chanter to the
Transactions of the Devonshire Association (vol. 4. part 2), and
read before that body at Bideford, August 187}.

Mr. Chanter describes Lundy Island as “A lofty table-headed
granite rock, rising to the height of 500 feet, surrounded by steep

LUNDY ISLAND. -Xxvii

and occasionally perpendicular cliffs, storm-beaten and scarred
over with grisly seams and clefts,and hollowed out here and
there along the shore into fantastic coves and grottoes, with huge
piles of granite thereon in wild disorder. The cliffs and adjacent
sea, alive with sea-birds, every ledge and jutting rock being dotted
with them, or whirling round in clouds, filling the air with their
discordant cries.” Mr Chanter supplies a list of the species of
Birds, which had been observed on the island up to 1871,
revised by the Rev. M. A. Mathew and Mr. H. G. Heaven,
including 27 residents, 29 summer visitants, 22 autumn and
winter visitants, 59 occasional visitants. To this list Pallas’s
Sand Grouse has since been added. Mr. Chanter states that the
commonest small birds on Lundy are the Chaffinch, Linnet, Song
Thrush, Lark, Wren, Rebin, Stonechat, Hedge Accentor,
Yellowhammer, Meadow Pipit and Rock Pipit, while among the
rarer small birds figure the Crossbill and Rose-coloured Starling.
The Common Starling occurs in large flocks in winter.

Westcote wrote in 1620: ** Timber and wood it hath none,
only a few stunted elders, which are haunted with such a
multitude of stares that you can hardly come to them for the
dunging of the birds.” The Peregrine Falcon has bred on
Walney from time immemorial. We read in the inquisition of
1274: “There is also the eyre of butcher falcons, which have
sometimes three young ones, sometimes four. These eyre the
jury knew not how to estimate, as they build their nests in a place
in which they cannot be taken.” Woodcock and Snipe often
visit Lundy. ‘‘Should the winter be exceptionally severe,” writes
Mr. Chanter, ‘“‘and especially should there be a heavy fall of snow,
large flights of Woodcocks seek a more genial climate in Lundy,
with its numerous springs which never freeze in the hardest frost.
They find shelter in the little valleys, in the boggy ground formed
by the streams, and in the steep cleaves on the eastern side,
locally called the “Sidings.” The Island is then a paradise for
sportsmen, as in addition to the Woodcock and Snipe: Plovers,
Wild Duck, Wigeon and Teal are suificiently numerous to afford

XXViil LUNDY ISLAND.

first-rate sport.” But after all the chief interest of Lundy is to
be found in the hosts of sea birds which throng its rocky cliffs,
of these, the most important in olden days were the Gannets,
which “appear at one time to have been very plentiful. They
are continually referred to in the old record as constituting one
of the chief sources of the riches and revenue of the island.”

A journal of 1787, quoted by Mr. Chanter, furnishes the
accompanying narrative of fowling, as then practised on Lundy
Island; “* After dinner we walked to view the rocks on the
western part of the Island and saw vast quantities of wild fowl,
and the method of taking them in nets, which the inhabitants use
for the advantage of their feathers. The nets are just the same
as those commonly used for taking rabbits on warrens. They are
fixed on the rocks, and sometimes on the ground on sticks in the
breeding places. Every morning and evening the natives watch
their nets and take out the birds that are entangled. They catch,
in a good season, 1700 or 1800 dozen, and make one shilling per
pound of their feathers.” Mr. Chanter furnishes other statistics,
showing that “ The eggs are still taken in considerable numbers
by the youths on the Island, as well as by fishermen from the
neighbouring coasts.” On Lundy the eggs are used for cooking
purposes, or sold to visitors at Ilfracombe.

BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Chief Authorities Consulted.
A.—LOCAL WORKS.

Polwhele, R. History of Devon, Exeter, 1793-1806, folio,
3 vols.

Turton, W. and Kingston, J. F., Natural History of
Teignmouth, Teignmouth, 1810, 12mo.

Jones, J. P., Moretonhampstead and Dartmoor, 1823.

Anon, The North Devon Magazine, 1824.

Moore, E., Ornithology of South Devon, Trans. Plym.
Inst., Plymouth, 1830, 8°.

Anon, South Devon Monthly Magazine, vol. 3, 1834.

Stothard, (Mrs. Bray) Description of Devonshire,
London. 1838, 12°. 3 vols.

Moore, E., Birds of Devonshire, Mag. Nat. Hist. N.S.
London, 1837, 8°.

Bellamy, J. C., Natural History of South Devon,
Plymouth, 1839.

Rowe, J., Perambulation of Dartmoor, Plymouth, 1848, 8°.

Rowe, J. B., Catalogue of Birds of Devon, Plymouth,
1863, 8°.

Tugwell, G., The North Devon Scenery Book, London,
1863, 8°.

Anon, Chagford Parish Magazine, 1866.

Chanter, J. R., History of Lundy Island, Trans. Dev.
INSSOG. LOT 1, O°.

D’Urban, W. S. M., Besley’s Pocket Book, 1875.

Pulman, G. P. R., Book of the Axe, London, 1854, 8°.

Parfitt, E., Birds of Devon, Trans. Dev. Assoc. 1876, 8°.

XXX BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Green, G. C., Collections and Recollections of Natural
History, London, 1884, 8°.

Banfield, J., Guide to Ilfracombe, n.d.

Tucker, G. C., Ornithologia Danmoniensis, 1809.

Ross, F. W. L., Illustrations of Natural History, 4 vols,
Topsham, 1836-44.

Ross, F. W. L., History of British Laridae, Topsham 1847.

B.—GENERAL WORKS.

Montagu, G., Ornithological Dict., London, 1802, 8°.

Montagu, G., Supplement, London, 1813, 8°.

Graves, G., British Ornithology, London, 1811-12, 8°.

Smith, C., Birds of Somerset, London, 1869, 8°.

Harting, J. E., Handbook of British Birds, London,
EOTZ. Op

Rodd, E. H., Birds of Cornwall, London, 1880, 8°.

Yarrell’s British Birds, London, 1871-1885. 8°. fourth ed.

Dresser, Birds of Europe, London, 1871-9. Fol.

Zoologist, London, 1843-18go. 8°.

THE
BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

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THE
BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

OrperR PASSERES,

Family TURDIDA.
Subfamily TURDIN A
MISSEL THRUSH.—Twrdus viscivorus, (Linn).

A NuMEROUS resident, bold and audacious in the
breeding season, at other times, shy and retiring,
A partial migrant. Its trivial name of ‘ Missel
Thrush” is derived from its excessive fondness for
mistletoe berries, but in Devonshire it is_ better
known as the ‘‘Holm Screech ;” “Holm ” being a
name for the holly, the berries of which are also
eaten greedily by this species ; individual thrushes
taking possession of certain trees, and stripping
them of their berries, whilst all intruders are
driven away.

SONG THRUSH.—Turdus musicus, (Linn).
A NuMeERoUs resident, its breeding range extending
from the wilds of Dartmoor to our most cultivated
districts. Though represented all through the year,
many migrate in autumn, their place being filled by

immigrants. Pied varieties often occur.
A

2 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
REDWING.—T7urdus iliacus, (Linn).
A WINTER visitor, generally numerous, but sometimes
hardly seen, e.q., in mild, open winters. Many
appeared in the autumn of 1887, while in that of
1888, scarcely one was to be met with,a remark
that applies equally to the north and south of the
county. Near Tavistock, Mr. Mitchell has found
this thrush to show a preference for roosting in thick
fir woods.

FIELDFARE.—Turdus pilaris, (Linn).

AN ABUNDANT winter visitant, arriving chiefly in
October, and occasionally prolonging its stay until
the beginning of May. Mr. Mitchell remarks that
the flocks of this Thrush which he observes, frequent
the borders of Dartmoor rather than the moor itself.
I have often noticed their peculiar habit of roosting
on the ground, for on winter evenings Fieldfares
gather from great distances, arriving in flocks at
some favourite spot just before dusk, and then
roosting on the ground, like Skylarks, generally
among coarse grass or in stubble fields. The song
of the Fieldfare is seldom heard in England, but
Mr. E. Murch records his listening to a singing Field-
fareon January 25th, the notes of which he compares
to the blended songs of the Blackbird and Missel
Thrush. (Zool. 1846. p. 1297),

WHITE'S THRUSH.—Turdus varius, (Pall).

A rare straggler. ‘ A good specimen of this

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 3

Eastern Asiatic Thrush,’ writes Mr. W. E. H.
Holdsworth, “was killed by Mr. E. Studdy, in
Dene Wood, near Ashburton, Devon, during the
severe cold weather in January last (1881). It was
in company with three or four birds of apparently
the same species and, when flushed, was mistaken
for a Woodcock, from its heavy flight,” (Zool. 1881
p. 108). This bird was exhibited at a meeting of
the Zoological Society by Mr. Holdsworth. The
fact that 1t was seen in company with other indi-
viduals of the same species is noteworthy, previous
records of examples shot in this country, having
referred to solitary individuals.

BLACKBIRD.—Turdus merula, (Linn).

A NuMmenous resident, not confined to the cultivated
districts, sometimes breeding on the same ground
as the Ring Ouzel. Immigrants arrive in early
winter, and, during a spell of wet weather, may
usually be found searching for slugs and snails in
the turnip fields. A cream coloured variety was
shot at Warleigh, and pied and pure white varieties
being frequently obtained.

RING OUZEL.—Turdus torquatus, (Linn),

A sprinG and autumn migrant, often occurring at
the Start Lighthouse at the periods of its arrival
and departure ; many proceed into the centre of the
county to breed on Dartmoor, where its nesting
habits have been studied by several ornithologists.
Thus Dr. Scott writes of this species: “ They

4 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

appear to confine themselves principally to high
and lonely Tors, and there, as you wander amongst
the huge detached blocks of granite, they may be
observed hopping from stone to stone,”’ (Zool. 1849.
p. 2384). ‘Although the Ring Ouzel moves North
and South in large numbers,” writes the late Mr.
Rodd, ‘‘ a great. number remain in the spring and
summer months on Dartmoor and the Cornish
moors to breed, and may be observed all through
the summer with thei nests, eggs and young,”
(Zool. 1869. p. 1918). The following extract from
Mr. Gatcombe’s field notes for 1872, describes this
Thrush as seen on its nesting ground: ‘ April 7th,
again on Dartmoor. Ring Ouzels uttering their
somewhat wild and plaintive call notes in every
direction, more especially in the neighbourhood of
‘Tavy Cleave,’ at which place, when botanising
with some friends among the rocks, heath and furze
afew years ago, we found several nests and eggs ;
and I feel perfectly satisfied that this species may be
found annually breeding in suitable localities over
the whole extent of the moor. I have remarked
that, when perched, the position of the Ring Ouzel
is more horizontal than that of the Blackbird, but its
alarm note is very similar and its song not much
unlike, It has a habit of hiding under rocks and
large stones when pursued, and if found will
suddenly start away with rapid flight to a long
distance, emitting its chucking alarm-notes all the
way. It has also the habit, especially when its

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 5

nest is approached, of alighting on.a rock or stone
near or hopping along the ground with drooping
wings and elevated tail, at the same time uttering
the quickly repeated ‘ chuck, chuck, chuck,’ of alarm ”
(Zool. 1872. p. 3099). My. Mitchell writes that the
Ring Ouzel arrives at the end of March and during
the first days of April, on Dartmoor; nesting in
rocks on the top of the Tors, in the steep banks of
streams, and in old quarries. It feeds on Whortle
berries. In September the Ring Ouzels resort to
the valleys bordering on the moor, where they
subsist partially on Blackberries They leave in
October, when stragglers may be met with on the
tops of the sea cliffs; this species occasionally
prolongs its stay with us into the middle of winter.

WHEATEAR.—-Sazricola wnanthe, (inn).

A. NUMEROUS summer migrant, a few birds appearing
early in March, before the great flocks arrive. Mr.
Gatcombe examined specimens shot near Plymouth,
onthe 5th of March, and once saw a single bird on
Dartmoor on the 6th of that month. The majority
of immigrants pass through on their vernal passage,
after resting a day or two on the coast; returning
in autumn in increased numbers, and occurring at
both seasons at the lighthouses. Mr. Gatcombe was
shown a Wheatear which had alighted on a fishing
boat five miles from land in an exhausted state on
April 2nd, its two companions being seen to fall
into the sea. A good many Wheatears take up

6 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

their summer quarters with us, especially on Dart-
moor, where they nest under loose stones and in
rabbit burrows.

W HINCHAT.—Pratincola rubetra, (linn).

A sUMMEFR visitant, numerously represented on
Haldon and Woodbury Common, and present in
smaller numbers on the edge of Dartmoor. The
Editor found it very abundant near Torquay in the
summer of 1880, frequenting more — sheltered
situations than those favoured by the Stonechat.
A few pairs generally breed in North Devon. (KE.
Rawson).

STONECHAT.— Pratincola rubicola, (inn).

A RESIDENT, and partial migrant, nesting in March
and April on Dartmoor ; generally present in suitable
localities, more numerous than the Whinchat in
North Devon <A cream-coloured Stonechat, shot
on Shenstone Marsh, April, 1863, is in the collection
of Mr. H. Nicholls.

REDSTART.—Ruticilla phoenicurus. (Linn.)

A SUMMER Visitant of partial distribution, common
in the neighbourhood of Exeter, and numerous in
North Devon (A. Mitchell), but generally a scarce
bird in the South and West of the County. About
Sidmouth it is rarely seen (A. L. Hine-Haycock).
In thirty years experience, the Rev. J. C. Green,
of Modbury, has only seen one local specimen, a
female, picked up dead upon the sea shore near

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 7

Ringmoor, in 1888. Mr. Gatcombe occasionally
observed stragglers near Plymouth on their first
arrival, and once had reason to suppose that a pair
nested in his district. About Broadelyst it is
plentiful ; I often watch it flitting in and out of our
hedgerows, and have heard its sweet song prolonged
far into the night.

*

BLACK REDSTART.—Ruticilla titys, (Scop.)

A WINTER visitant in sparing numbers to 8. Devon,
of occasional occurrence inland and on the North
coast, but chiefly met with in certain favourite
localities on the Southern coast, between November
and March. Bellamy recorded it in 1839, as a
winter visitant, under the title of Sylvia erithacus
the Red-tailed Warbler, on the strength of six
specimens shot at Devonport, in November, (Nat.
Hist. of Devon, p. 205); a decision soon con-
firmed by the Rev. W.S. Hore, who stated in 1844,
that examples had frequented the neighbourhood of
Devonport for the previous five winters, and that a
score of specimens have been procured between
November 1845, and February 1844 (Zool. 1844.
p.p. 495-496). Mr. Hore pointed out that immature
birds formed the bulk of these immigrants, that they
arrived in November, that though absent during
summer, yet they returned to the same localities
annually, their stay being Jimited to three or four
months. He remarked on the shyness of the Black
Redstart in winter, an experience confirmed at the

8 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

same time by Mr. Jordan, of Teignmouth, who
found the species frequenting rocks in company
with the Rock Pipit, from Torquay, and other
localities similiar reports followed, but it was
reserved for Mr. Gatcombe to complete a series of
observations upon this species, carried out with
remarkable perseverance during a life-time. In
1857, this gifted naturalist recorded (Zool. 1857. p.
5593), that he had for many years ascertained that
the Black Redstart appeared on the coasts of Devon
or Cornwall the first or second week of November,
leaving at the end of March or the beginning of

April.

A few irregular observations from his pen
followed, but in 1872, he commenced a series of
notes which flowed forward in unbroken sequence
for twelve years, and these the Editor has taken
special pains to separate from the general details of
his papers, and to summarise in tabular form.

(1). 1872, A. Spring. March 15th, a Black Redstart
seen at Mount Batten ; March 20th, another at
Rhame Head, “about to take its departure.”
B. Autumn. November 12th, wind N.E.
blowing very cold, three birds at the Devil’s
Point, Stonehouse.

(2). 1873. A. Spring. March 7th, two Redstarts
seen, March 14th, another, which provokes the
comment, ‘‘these birds increase in number on

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 9

the seacoast just before their departure for the
summer’ ;

March 26th, another seen, ‘! I expect the
last for the season.”’

B. Autumn, November 8th, an adult male;
22nd, a young bird; December 13th, a young
bird killed ; December 28th, another seen.

(3). 1874. A. Spring. (At Torquay, two adult males

killed in a garden, in January). March 2nd, an
immature Redstart seen.

2. Autumn. November 3rd, an immature bird,
others on the dth, 7th, 16th, December Ist,
some, December 27th, one.

(4.) 1875. A. Spring. No Redstarts reported

B. Autumn. November 3rd, an immature bird,
others on the 11th, 15th, 22nd, and so to the
28th, December 2nd, some, 9th, some seen,

1876. A. Spring. January 8th, some, March
13th, one. March 21st, several seen,

B. Autumn. November 6th, the first seen ;
November 8th, another, an adult ; 24th, another
December 11th, another seen.

(6). 1877. A. Spring. January, several immature

Redstarts seen during the month, February
22nd, one seen; March, Redstarts noticed in
two localities until the 17th, ‘but soon after
that date they had nearly all left the coast.”

10

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

B. Autumn. November 3rd, two seen ; others-
almost daily during the remainder of the month.

. 1878. A. Spring. March 7th, Black Redstarts

still on the coast.

B. Autumn. November Ist, several Redstarts
arrived, weather very cold, wind N.E.

(8). 1879. A. Spring. January, an old male killed.

B. Autumn October 29th, an immature bird
at the Devil’s Point, “a day earlier than I ever
noticed one in this locality.”

(9). 1880. A. Spring. No remarks.

(10

)

B. Autumn. “Notwithstanding that I was
daily on the watch, not a simgle Black Red-
start did I see, a circumstance that has not
happened to me for at least twenty years.” Mr.
Gatcombe thought that the immigrants had
perhaps perished in crossing the channel during
the terrifie gales of November, but Mr. Clogg
met with two Black Redstarts at Looe,
Cornwall, during the season.

1881. A. Spring. No remarks.

B. Autumn. November 18th, first two Red-
starts seen. .

(11). 1882. A. Sprmg. No remarks.

B. Autumn. November 9th, wind N.N.W. an
immature bird; 11th, more birds; November
12th, an adult male, wind N.E.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. ilal

(12). 1883. A. Spring. February 18th, one seen ;
wind N. cold.

B. Autumn. November 12th, several seen this
day and subsequently. December, first week
many seen.

We learn from these statistics, that this Redstart
arrives on the South Devon coast chiefly during
November, singly or in two’s and trios, usually with
a Northerly wind; that their arrival is not
accomplished at once but is frequently extended,
and that in March the birds gather on the coast in
small parties or singly, previous to starting on the
journey to their breeding grounds. JWhere their
breeding grounds are, must bea matter of pure con-
jecture. It has been suggested that the birds which
visit this county have travelled thither from the
Pyrenees, but the Editor is unable to entertain this
hypothesis, having due regard te the reports of
the occurrence of the species at Heligoland, on
the Sussex, Essex, and occasionally Norfolk coasts,
and frequent presence on the Irish coasts during
the winter months; to say nothing of its occasional
occurrence in the West, Midland and even Northern
Countiesof England. Kverywhere, however, it seems
to rank as a rare bird, except in Cornwall and South
Devon, where its shyness at this season perhaps
makes it appear less abundant than it really is.

Mr. D’Urban’s experience differs from that of
Mr. Gatcombe in one particular, the former gentle-

12 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

man haying recorded a female Black Redstart
caught near Exeter as early as October 8th, or
three weeks before the earliest of Mr. Gatcombe’s
first arrivals, Both Mr. Gatcombe and the Rey. W.
S. Hore, remarked that Black Redstarts frequently
seek their food about old quarries, high buildings
and outhouses; the Rev. J. C. Green writes me
that he has observed a Black Redstart catching flies
on his church at Modbury. Those Ornithologists,
who are acquainted with this bird’s cheery and
constantly uttered song (in summer), will be
surprised that no one appears to have recorded that
it sings in its winter quarters. ‘The Editor says he
has heard the Black Redstart singing merrily in
September, but it is highly sensitive to barometrical
changes, and though at other times, a most sprightly
bird, assumes an aspect of misery in broken weather.
Mr. Gatecombe hinself noticed this in 1875, on the
28th November, the wind being NE. and bitterly
cold, he wrote, ‘‘The Black Redstarts appear to
suffer much from the cold, are very tame, and may
be seen hopping or puffed up on the grass above the
cliffs, instead of on the rocks below. The severe
weather has also been disastrous to the Green
Woodpeckers.” (Zool. 1876. p. 4784). = Mr.
Gatcombe noticed that the Black Redstart was not
a difficult bird to catch alive, and in this the Editor
concurs, having take both old and young birds in
an ordinary Nightingale trap, but the species requires
insects to keep it in good health, and is too active

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 13

and restless a bird to really thrive well in confine-
ment, unless enjoying the run of a large aviary.
Bellamy’s vague assertion that this bird had nested
near Exeter prior to 1839, (Nat. Hist. of Devon p.
206). hardly requires serious consideration, but Mr.
Gatcombe was once under the impression that an
adult male spent an entire summer in his winter
haunts, a supposition strengthened by the fact that
Mr. Howard Saunders and other competent observers
have met with stragglers of this species in England
in May and June. No one understood the changes
of plumage in this species better than Mr. Gatcombe
who examined many specimens on the continent as
well as at home, and gave Mr. J. H. Gurney a
specimen of the variety, in which the white aloe
patch of the perfectly adult male is entirely
suppressed ; the specimen being fully mature in all
other respects.

RED-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT.—Cyanecula sueccica, (inn).
A RARE visitant. In September, 1852, a single
specimen of the Bluethroat Warbler was shot in a

furze brake by Mr. Buller, near Whimple, South
Devon, (Zool 1852 p. 3709).
REDBREAST.—E£vithacus rubecula, (Linn).

AN ABUNDANT resident, but many migrate before
winter and others leave the colder districts for the
coast. Writing in December, Mr. Gatcombe remarks,
‘Tt is quite surprising to observe the quantity of
Robins that frequent the wildest parts of our rocky

1 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

coasts during winter, flitting in and out among the
rocks and caves (undercliff) all day long.” (Zool.
1870, p. 2026). He also observed its pertinacity
in driving away Black Redstarts from its haunts.
Instances of curious nesting sites might be cited
without number, Mr. A. L. Hine-Haycock tells me
of a bird at Sidmouth, which built her uest in a coil
of rope, hanging up in a tool-shed. The rope and
nest were removed and placed on a neighbouring
wall. The Redbreast continued to sit upon her eggs
and hatched the young out in safety. A saying 1s
current in North Devon, that when a Redbreast
perches on the roof of a cottage and utters its
plaintive “‘weet,:’ the baby in the cottage will die.
Another and wide-spread belief is that, if a
tedbreast happens to die in your hand, the hand in
question will always shake, as if with palsy.

NIGHTINGALE.—Daulias luscinia, (Linn).

A SUMMER visitant, rare or very local, and little
known in the county. Montagu met with it at
Kingsbridge, and Mr. R. P. Nicholls reports a
specimen picked up dead on a road in that locality,
April 24th, 1888. At Topsham the late Mr. F. W.
L. Ross heard two singing in the summer of 1845,
and another was shot near Honiton in May, 1846,
(Zool. 1846. p. 1593). Mr. Ross possessed a_ bird,
now inthe Exeter Museum, shot in Stoke’ Wood
near Exeter, prior to 1845, and one was heard in
the same wood in 1875. It is reported also to have

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 15

bred near Exeter in 1872. At Torquay a bird of
this species was heard singing in April, 1882, and it
visits Sidmouth occasionally, as in May 1884 (A. L.
Hine-Haycock). ‘'wo were shot at Thurlestone
Sands in the spring of 1888, and [have two examples
in my collection, killed near Plymouth. A Night-
ingale was heard at Barnstaple, in 1887, and others
at Shute Woods and Gittisham in May, 1889. Mr.
Rawson says he first heard of the Nightingale near
Ashburton, im Mid—Devon, in 1887, when a pair of
these birds took up their abode in a coppice near
the house of a friend. He went down to satisfy
himself the following year, and found two pairs had
established themselves in the same coppice. In 1889
two pairs nested in the old locality, and a third pair
nested close by, so that the birds are apparently
increasing, and likely to form a permanent settle-
ment.
Subfamily Sylviine.
WHITETHROAT.—Sylvia cinerea, (Bechst).
AN ABUNDANT summer visitant, frequenting our
shady lanes and hedgerows, and often pouring forth
its fussy song upon the wing. In Devonshire, as
elsewhere, it is often called the ‘Nettle-Creeper,”
from its partiality for fastening its nest to the stems
of that plant.
LESSER WHITETHROAT.—Sylvia curruca, (Linn).
A SUMMER visitant, but rare. It has been obtained
near Plymouth, but has not as yet been found
breeding in the county.

16 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
BLACKCAP.—Sylua atricapilla, (Linn).
A SUMMER visitant, more plentiful in the centre and
south of the county than on the north coast, though
its rich song and loud warning note readily reveal
its presence in the breeding season. Its occurrence
in winter is reported by Dr. Elliot, who met with a
bird of this species near Kingsbridge, in February,
1889.
GARDEN WARBLER.—Sylvia hortensis (Bechst).

A suMMER visitant, fairly distributed but not very
numerous, though its retiring habits may cause it to
be overlooked, in spite of its rich and pleasing song.

DARTFORD WARBLER.—WMelizophilus undatus, (Boda).

A RARE and partial resident, first observed in the
county by Montagu, in 1802, who emphasised
its comparative scarcity, finding it absent from
extensive tracts of furze such as seemed well adapted
to its habits, and remarking that it was usually
found within a few miles of the coast. Specimens
have from time to time been obtained in several
localities, as at Budleigh Salterton, where one was
shot by Mr. H. S. Percival, in 1871. (E. Parfitt) ; at
Lympstone, from whence a specimen was sent to
the Exeter Museum, in 1874; at Bickleigh Vale and
Withy-hedge, near Plymouth. In recording the
capture of a specimen at Mount Batten, in November,
1877, Mr. Gatcombe remarked that the Dartford
Warbler was to be met with im the furze brakes of
that locality almost every year. Mr, Mitchell

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 17

reports that he has met with the species in the
North of the County. Montagu found this species
nesting near Kingsbridge, in 1806, building in the
thickest furze, about two feet from the ground, a
nest resembling in the flimsiness of its structure that
of the Whitethroat, composed of dry vegetable
stalks, mixed with the tender dead branches of furze,
intermixed very sparingly with wool. The nestlings
reared by Montagu “ began to sing with the appear-
ance of their first mature feathers and continued in
song all the month of October.”

GOLDEN-CRESTED WREN.—Regulus cristatus. Koch.
A common resident, and winter immigrant, most
numerous in our fir plantations, though often seen in
our hedgerows and gardens, generally in small parties,
but single pairs are met with during every month.
Itisa delightful bird to study, appearing to be incess-
antly in motion, darting from branch to branch in its
keen pursuit of insects, often clinging to the under-
surface of the boughs of firs in titmouse fashion, either
in company with its own kind or associating with
Tits and Tree Creepers. Bellamy recordes a white
variety of the Goldcrest obtained in Devonshire.

FIRE-CRESTED WREN.—Regulus ignicapillus. (Brehm).
A RARE visitant during the winter months, only met
with hitherto in the South of the County. On the
6th of March, 1873, a beautiful female Firecrest was
taken in the flesh to Mr. Shopland, of Torquay,

B

18 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

having been obtained in the vicinity of that town.
It was recorded by Mr. J. H. Gurney and Baron
A. von Hiigel (Zool. 1873. p. 83490. 1874. p 3906).
Mr. Parfitt records two obtained near Devonport,
and Mr. Pulman states in his “ Book of the Axe,”
that it has been seen near Axminster; but whether
these examples were correctly identified as Fire-
crests, is unknown.

CHIFFCHAFF.—Phulloscopus rufus, (Bechst).

A numerous and early spring visitant, uttering its
monotonous notes from tall trees on its first arrival
in March, and continuing its simple song into the
summer months. Arriving, as it does before the
trees and hedges are in leaf, its presence serves as a
pleasant reminder of the advancing season.
Strageglers occasionally pass the winter in South
Devon, but the Chiffchaff is a less common bird at
all times in the North of the County.

WILLOW WREN.—Phyjlloscopus trochilus, (Linn).

A NUMEROUS summer visitant, generally distributed
through our plantations and hedgerows, especially
partial to meadows, intersected with streams and
watercourses, building its domed nest on or near
the ground, less artfully concealed than that of the

Wood Wren.
WOOD WREN.—Phylloscopus sibilatriz, (Bechst),

A SUMMER visitant, frequenting tall woods ; local in
its distribution, though fairly common in some

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 19

districts. Mr. Mitchell finds it breeding near
Tavistock ; the Rev. G. C. Green reports it as
breeding at Ivybridge, while on the Eastern border
of the County, Prebendary Bassett, of Dulverton,
often takes the nest of the Wood Wren, having made
this bird a special study. Mr. Aplin found it
numerous at Clovelly, and other localities could be
cited ; but its absence from many districts is as well
authenticated as its annual presence in its favourite
breeding haunts.
RUFOUS WARBLER.—Aédon galactodes.

A RARE visitant, only obtained hitherto in the South
of Devon. In September, 1859, a single bird of
this species, was shot by Mr. Llewellyn, while flying
over a stone wall within a hundred yards of the sea
at the Start. It was exceedingly thin and had lost its
tail. It was presented to the British Museum
(Warnell, B.B- vol. I. p. 356. 4th ed). In 1876,
Mr. H. Nicholls rerorded the recurrence of this
species, at Slapton, on the 12th of October, adding ;
‘as a gentleman and some friends were crossing a
turnip field, a small bird of a very light colour was
seen to rise and fly on to the hedge; its peculiar
habit of flyin

again at the same place, with extended tail, attracted

@ up perpendicularly and alighting
attention, and it was approached and _ shot,’ (Zool.
1876. p. 5178). The specimen was examined at
the house of Mr. R. P. Nicholls by the Rev. Murray
A. Mathew, who pointed out its immaturity. Mr.
Bastard, who was present when this bird was shot,

20 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

informs me that it is still retained in the possession
of hisfamily. This example, like the first, was shot
in the vicinity of the sea.

LEED WARBLER —Acrocephalus streperus (Vieill).
A RARE summer visitant, catalogued as a Devon-
shire bird by Dr. Moore and subsequent writers,
but reported to Mr. A. G. More by Mr. Gatcombe
and the Rev. Murray A. Mathew as “ not breeding
in Devonshire.” The late Mr. J. H. Gurney, who,
as a Norfolk Naturalist, possessed an intimate
knowledge of this species, observed several Reed
Warblers at Slapton Ley, on the 6th of May, 1871,
and as he heard them frequently during the
remainder of the month, it is not unlikely that they
nested in the locality ; they undoubtedly nest freely
in the West of Dorset. Further research may show
that this species nests at Slapton Ley every year ;
nor is it unlikely that the Marsh Warbler (Acrocep-
halus patustr’s) will prove to be a summer visitant
to Devon, since it frequently breeds in Somerset.
SEDGE WARBLER,—Acrocephalus phragiitis (Bechst),

A SUMMER visitant, plentiful in suitable localities in
the North and South, as on the river Clyst, where
Thave taken many nests, but scarce in the neighbour-
hood of Dartmoor, where the streams are less

adapted to meet its requirements.

GRASSHOPPEK WARBLER.—Locustella navia (Bodd).
A SUMMER visitant, uncertain in its numbers, being
rare in some seasons, but in others fairly numerous.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 21

Y have listened to its curious notes on Woodbury
Common, and a specimen in the Exeter Museum
was obtained on Stoke Furze Brake, April 26th,
1849; others beg procured near Plymouth,
Axminster, Leigham, and some other localities. The
Rey. Prebendary Bassett considers it a rare bird in
the Dulverton district, and Mr. Mitchell reports it
as seldom met with in North Devon.

Subfamily ACCENTORIN

ITEDGE SPARROW.—Accentor modularis, (Linn).

AN UNOBTRUSIVE but numerous resident, creeping
demurely about our hedgerows, often to be seen
flitting about old stacks of wood. In early spring
it is a vigorous songster, pouring forth its sweet
notes from the summit of some shrub or garden
railing. White specimens have come under my
notice, and some of the pied birds have their plumage
prettily varied.

ALPINE ACCENTOR.—Accentor collaris, (Scop).
ARAREvisitant toSouth Devon. The first procured was
shot on the rocks at ‘Teignmouth, January 9th,:1844,
by Mr. R. C. R. Jordan, and was stuffed by Drew,
at whose house the Rev. W. 8. Hore referred it to
this species ; Mr. Jordan haying previously recorded
it as a Richard’s Pipit (Zool. 1844. p. 566). The
following year, Mr. Hore reported a second specumen
shot near Torbay, and this bird Professor Newton
believes to have been killed at Berry Head; shown
to him by its owner, Mr. Lyte, in 1850, No others

22 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

seem to have turned up until 1858, when Mr.
Gatcombe observed a pair of Alpine Accentors on
the cliffs near Plymouth, on December 20th. They
were very tame and allowed a near approach, but
when he returned with a gun (less than an hour
afterwards), they were not to be seen, nor did he
meet with them again until January 10th, 1859;
when after a search of three weeks, he shot both
birds. ‘Their actions, when hopping on the grass on
the top of the cliff, were very like those of the Hedge
Sparrow, but on bemg disturbed they immediately
flew to the rocks below. Their note resembled the

” and, as he wrote to

syllables “‘tree, tree, tree ;
Professor Newton, ‘‘ the reddish mark on their sides
appeared nearly as conspicuous as that of the Red-

”)

wing.” The stomach of one of these birds contained
eravel, fine sand and seeds, but no insects, (Zool.

1859. p. 6377).

Family CYXcurpz.

DIPPER.—Cinclus aquaticus, (Bechst).

A common resident on our moorland streams,
building very early in the yeaz, on the face of rocks,
in overhanging banks and under bridges. Its sweet
song may be heard nearly all the year through.
Mr. Mitchell says that in severe weather many of
the Dartmoor birds descend to lower grounds, and
it was on the coast at Torquay that the late
Mr. Stevenson, of Norwich, first saw the Dipper in
a wild state: watching it for days, “ flitting across

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 23

the little bay, from one range of rocks to the other,
flying low over the waves as they broke on the
shingly beach, and perching every now and then on
the huge stones that form the breakwater jutting
out into the sea.” (Zool. 1860. p. 6797),

Family PANURIDA.
BEARDED TITMOUSE.—Panurus biarmicus, (inn).

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore in 1830, catalogued
this species as a Devonshire bird, on the information
of Mr. Comyns that it occurred in the willow beds
opposite Topsham, on the River Exe ; Bellamy
stated in 1839, that it wasfound ‘‘ in one or two
spots near Exeter,” but their is nothing to confirm
this vague, hearsay evidence. ‘That the species has
occurred, however, in the North of the County is
certain, as the Rev. Murray A. Mathew, in a letter
dated January 12th, 1890, writes; ‘‘ The Bearded
Titmouse occurred to me only once in North Devon,
and this was in a salt marsh close to Barnstaple.
I was looking out for duck one rough autumn day
and a squall of sleet made me run to the shelter of
a sedgy fence, and while I was there, hearing some
strange bird notes close behind me, I turned and saw
some ten or dozen Bearded Tits in the Sedge. I
watched them for some time with great pleasure,
and did not molest them.” It is probable that these
individuals were immigrants from the Continent.
The Rey. J. ©. Green informs me that there is a
Bearded Tit in the Torquay Museum local collection,

24 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

but I also learn from Mr. F. Pershouse that its
antecedents are bad.

BRITISH LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE.
Acredula rosea, (Blyth).
AN ABUNDANT resident in our woods and hedgerows,
living gregariously during the greater part of the
year.
GREAT TITMOUSE.—Parus major, Linn.

A common resident in our orchards and woods
during the summer months, in severe weather
frequenting the buildings, and feeding on scraps of
food.
BRITISH COAL TITMOUSE.
Parus britannicus, Sharpe & Dresser.
A constant resident in our fir plantations, fairly
numerous in its favourite haunts throughout the
county. It is a very restless Titmouse, always in
motion, often associating with other species of
Paridee.
MARSH TITMOUSE.—Parus palustris, Linn.
A FAIRLY common resident, more local than the pre-
ceding species, but not by any means a scarce bird
in Deyon. It is less social than the other 'Titmice,
but Mr. Gatcombe observed the Marsh Tit associat-
ing, in its autumn wanderings, with large parties of
Coal Tits and Long-tailed Tits (Zool. 1872. p. 3260),
BLUE TITMOUSE.—-Parus ceruleus, Linn.

A PLENTIFUL resident, frequenting our gardens, and
often nesting in curious places, in successive years,

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 25

as at Coombe Rawleigh ; where a pair of Blue Tits
reared their young in a letter box in the years 1883-
5, inclusive, undaunted by the postman’s discharge
of duty. Like the other Tits, this species gathers
mito droves ; on February the 27th, 18792,
Mr. Gatcombe ‘‘ came across an extraordinary flight
of Titmice, composed chiefly of the Bluecap, which
were flitting about among the trees and bushes, and
every now and then descending in a body to the
ground, hopping about and feeding among the grass,
just like Finches.” When they had to cross a field,
they all went in a flock, and Mr. Gatcombe
estimated that their numbers far exceeded a
hundred individuals (Zool. 1872, p. 5014),
CRESTED TITMOUSE.—Parus cristatus, Linn.
A RARE visitant. On the 26th of March, 1874,
Baron A. von Hiigel noticed a bird of this species
in Chelston Lane, ‘Torquay, which allowed of such
a close approach that he nearly succeeded in touching
it with his walking stick (Zool. 1874. p. 4065).
The tameness of this solitary bird exactly coincides
with the Editor’s experience, for, while droves of
this Titmouse are usually shy and anxious to escape
notice, the single birds that he has met with
invariably admitted of a very close inspection.
Family.—Sittip@,
NUTHATCH.—sitta cesia, Wolf.

A FAIRLY numerous resident in our parks and .
orchards, and a delightful bird to study, whether

26 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

occupied in hammering nuts with repeated blows, or
tapping dead boughs in order to alarm the harboaring’
insects. An interesting departure from the usual
habits of the Nuthatch has come under my notice, a
pair of these birds nesting year after year in an old
‘cob wall,” ze. a wall built of mud mixed with stone
and straw. Most of the old walls and cottages in
this part of Devon were built of this material laid
in layers; and our Nuthatches resort year after
year to the same unusual nesting place, the
female depositing her eggs on a nest lning of
dead leaves. A female Nuthatch, sent to the
Editor, from Kingskerswell, became exceedingly
familiar, and readily accepted bluebottle flies,
small moths and other insects from his
fingers during the summer months. This bird
was partial to canary seed, separating the
husks from the grain by deft strokes of her

long bill.

Family TRroGLopyTIDA.

WREN.—Troglodytes parvulus, Koch.

A RESIDENT, common everywhere, in our gardens,
woodlands and even by the seashore; more often
heard than seen, from its liquid song, noisy chatter
and skulking habits; at home everywhere, and
always the same vivacious, fussy little bird. Bellamy
states that two white Wrens and thei three white
young ones were procured at Langdon, in 183
(Nat. Hist. of Devon p. 206).

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 27
Fanily.—Morvaci.uip a.
WHITE WAGTAIL.—-Iotacilla alba, Linn.

A SPRING visitant to North and South Devon,
identified in April and May by such competent
observers as Mr. Rickards, who shot specimens in
April 1871, at Northam Burrows, and Mr. Gatcombe,
who occasionally met with stragglers in the neigh-
bourhood of Plymouth. The Rey. Murray A. Mathew
informed Mr. A. G. More that he considered the
White Wagtail a regular spring visitor to the coast
of North Devon, and that a pair nested near
Ilfracombe, in June 1860, the nest being placed in
a wall bordering on a stream ; a situation which the
Editor has found to be frequently adopted by this
Wagtail, though he has also seen nests in outhouses,
and in the roots of trees.

PIED WAGTAIL.—WMotacilla lugubris, Temm.

A spring and autumn visitant, many breeding with
us, and a considerable number wintering in Devon.
The late Mr. Stevenson once witnessed the Spring
arrival of Pied Wagtails on the Den at Teignmouth ;
writing, ‘* On the morning of the 20th of March, a
most undoubted arrival of migratory specimens
appeared, the slopes in front of the sea being quite
covered with them. So unusual was their appear-
ance in such quantities, and so tame did they appear
that every one was stopping to look at them, but by
the next day this flight had passed on, and only a
few pairs, as usual, remained by the sea,” (Zool.

28 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

1860, p. 6790). Their movements in autumn, when
the numbers of old birds are recruited by the young
broods, are more extended but quite as noteworthy.
One fine September evening, I counted more than a
hundred Pied Wagtails clustering together on the
telegraph wires near Broadclyst, ike a swarm of
migrating Swallows. As I watched them, they all
suddenly took wing and flew out of sight.

GREY WAGTAIL.—Motacilla melanope, Pall.
A. SUMMER migrant and partial resident, nesting
somewhat sparingly among rocks and in the crevices
of walls, breeding chiefly on the higher grounds
early in the year. Mr. Mitchell considers it a scarce
bird on Dartmoor. Mr. J. R. Earle found an egg of
the Cuckoo in the nest of a Grey Wagtail built in
the stone-work of an old bridge which crosses the
river Otter at Honiton, together with two eggs of
the Wagtail.
BLUE-HEADED YELLOW WAGTAIL.—
Motacilla flava, Linn.

A RARE spring and autumn visitant to South Devon,
not yet reported from our North coast. Mr.
Gatcombe obtained a pair of these Wagtails in a
marsh near Plymouth, May Ist, 1850, and met with
the species again in the autumn of 1874, when he
observed a pair of adults in a meadow close to the
town, on the 29th, and 31st, of August. He remarked
that when disturbed, these Wagtails generally flew
off in a different direction from the Yellow Wagtails.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 29

“The male, although of a fine yellow on the under-
parts, had a dark spot on the breast, which I suspect
is usual after the autumnal moult, the head was pure
gray, and the stripe over the eye and throat, white ”’
(Zool. 1874. p. 4229). The same Ornithologist
occasionally noticed a few young Wagtails, which
showed none of the usual heht yellow colour on
any part of the body, and possessed such other
characteristics as suggested that they were perhaps
the young of M. flava. In the spring of 1880,
Mr. H, Nicholls shot a pair of these Wagtails near
Kingsbridge; these specimens are in the collection
of Mr. Andrews (Zool. 1880. p. 487).

YELLOW WAGTAIL.—Wotacilla rau, (Bp).

A SUMMER visitant, occurring plentifully in_ spring
and autumn, and nesting with us in limited numbers ;
as at Plymouth, where Mr. Gatcombe found it
breeding in 1872, on the line of its migrations.
‘For a week or two only,” he writes, ‘‘on the first
arrival of this species in spring, small flocks may
annually be seen in our meadows and marshes,
but on their return in autumn their numbers are
greatly increased; large companies, composed
chiefly of young birds of the season, with their
parents, may then be observed in meadows, marshes,
fields, and even on the cliffs all along the coast, just
before their departure for the winter ” (Zool. 1872.
p. 3166).

30 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
MEADOW PIPIT.—Anthus pratensis, (Linn).

A RESIDENT and partial migrant, nesting chiefly on
our moors where it is perhaps the commoniest bird ;
it breeds also on lower grounds, as at Broadclyst, in
low marshy ground,

TREE PIPIT.—Anthus trivialis, (Linn),
A sUMMER migrant, arriving in April in most of our
well timbered districts, uttering its sweet song as it
rises from the top of some tall tree, and nesting in
sheltered situations ; fairly common in suitable
localities.

RICHARD’S PIPIT.—Anthus richardi.

A RARE visitant. Mr Gatcombe first met with this
species in South Devon, in December 1841, when
four specimens were obtained, one of which he gave
to the Rev. W. S. Hore, (Zool. 1844. p. 496). His
attention was first directed to these birds by their
very peculiar note, and he described their flight as
resembling that of the Wagtail. They did not
appear to be on friendly terms with some Meadow
Pipits, which were constantly endeavouring to drive
them from their feeding grounds. In 1844, another
was shot by Mr. Row, and though I have failed to
discover that Mr. Gatcombe obtained other specimens,
from direct records, yet, there can be no doubt that
such was the case, for, in recording an example of
this large Pipit seen on the grassy slope of a cliff
near Plymouth, March 14th, 1877, he states that
he felt satisfied of a hurried identification, ‘being so

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 31

well acquainted with the appearance and flight of the
species in a wild state, having at different times met
with no less than seven examples in the neighbour-
hood of Plymouth, besides two others that were
brought to our bird stuffers in the flesh.” (Zool.
1878. p. 249).

In the North of the County, the species has been
detected on three occasions by Lieutenant G. I.
Mathew, who first met with it, at Braunton
Burrows on December 30th, 1864.“ When walking
across one of the flats which occur between the
ridges of sand-hills, I observed a bird running with
great activity among some dead plants of Fleabane
(Mula dysenterica), and as it seemed to stand much
higher on its legs than the common Meadow Pipit
(A. pratensis), and altogether to appear considerably
larger, I walked towards it to obtain a nearer view,
and when I had approached to within about. fifty
yards, it rose and flew for a short distance, uttering
aloud sharp note quite unknown to me.” Mr. Mathew
fired, but ‘‘ only broke one of its legs, and it flew
away for a long distance before again alighting,
with a dipping flight similar to thatof a Wagtail.”
Mr. Mathew eventually secured the bird, which he
compared with a specimen in the collection of the
Rev. W. 8. Hore (Zool. 1865. p. 9456). In 1869,
Mr. Mathew shot another Richard’s Pipit, on
Braunton Marsh, ‘‘attracted to it by its loud and
peculiar note” (Zool, 1869. p. 1561), on the 4th, of
January ; on the 8th December, 1872, he heard

32 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

the unmistakable note of this bird, about the old
place, and following it up, shot a third specimen
(Zoo). 1872. p. 2919).
WATER PIPIT.—Anthus spinoletta.
A rare strageler. Mr. Gatcombe detected this species
in South Devon, in 1873, writing, ‘‘ March 8th,
walked for some miles along the coast, and observed
a specimen of the Water Pipit, (Anthus
spinolettu), which species is rarely seen on the
Devonshire coast” (Zool. 1873. p. 8563).

ROCK PIPIT.—Anthus obscurus, (Lath).

A RESIDENT species on our coast lines. The late
Mr. Stevenson writes of its habits, as studied at
Teignmouth; ‘This species in Devonshire, seems
to take the place of the Meadow Pipit on the
Fastern coasts, frequenting the grassy slopes by the
sea, and the rocks at low water left bare by the tide.
Here they flit noiselessly from one weed-covered
stone to another, searching the little hollows between
for insect life, or running along by the edge of the
water, dart at the sand-flies as they rise,” (Zool.
1860. p. 6798). The vinous-breasted variety of the
Rock Pipit, known as Anthus rupestits, which breeds
on the Scandinavian coasts, has occasionally been
detected in spring, on the South coast of Devon.
Mr. Gatcombe shot a bird of this form on the rocks
near Plymouth, March 21st, 1868, prior to which
he knew of a specimen obtained at Torquay. In
1888, additional examples of this race of Rock Pipit

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 33

were shot at Beer, in February, and sent in the
flesh to Mr. D’Urban, (Zool. 1883. p. 221). It does
not appear that this race differs in habits from the
common bird. The Rock Pipit is however a more
noisy bird inthe breeding season, than Mr. Stevenson’s
remarks suggest, both as regards its call notes and
its song. I have chiefly observed it in rocky places
but it occurs also where rocks are entirely absent.

Family ORIOLIDA,
GOLDEN ORIOLE.—Oriolus galbula, Linn.

A RARE visitant to Devon, but though less frequently
met with than in Cornwall or the South Eastern
Counties, has occurred in April and May near
Plymouth, on the Avon, at Okehampton Park, at
Estover, at Leigham, at Mount Edgecombe and
near Barnstaple, where the Rev. M. A. Mathew
reported it to Mr. A. G. More, (1865) as having
nested in some pleasure grounds. Kxamples are
usually reported in the Spring; but, in 1887,
the Rev. H. Haden, who is well acquainted with
the Golden Oriole, observed a single bird in the
month of July, watching it for some time in an
orchard at Stokenham, (Rey. I. J. Dickinson in litt).

Family UANIIDA,
GREAT GREY SHRIKE.—Lanius excubitor, Linn.

A RARE winter visitant. I made the acquaintance of

this species at Broadclyst in rather a curious way.

On the 24th of January, 1888, I was returning
Cc

34 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

home from shooting in the dusk of the evening,
when a bird flew out of one of the lime trees in the park,
where it had evidently intended to pass the night ; as
soon as the bird flew out I shot it, and was surprised,
on picking it up, to find that I had secured a Great
Grey Shrike, an adult male specimen. Dr. Moore
recordsspecimens shot at Leigham, and Millaton ; Dr.
D’ Urban cites one obtained at Topsham, in 1839 ;
another at Exeter, in 1845; another at Torquay, in
July, 1865 ; another near Honiton, January, 1871 ;
another recorded by Mr. Gatcombe, shot between
Lydtord and Bridestowe, November, 1876; and a sixth
shot at Morchard Bishop, in March, 1882. To these we
may add, one shot at Tawton Marshes, October, 1855;
another seen by the Rev. M. A. Mathew, January,
1858 ; another observed by Baron A. von Hiigel, on
October, 14th, 1869, at Torquay ; one seen near
Barnstaple, March, 1870; another observed at
Watcombe Park, by Mr. G. B. Corbin, “ perching on
a Rhododendron,” April, 1876; and asixth shot by Mr.
Mackie at Kingsbridge, December, 1883; this last
being the only one that Mr. H. Nicholls has met within
his long experience of that district. Dr, Ellot dis-
covered that this Shrike had impaled a Chaftfinch in its
larder ; and, on dissecting the body, found a
number of seeds in its stomach. Whether any of
the fifteen specimens, here recorded, should be
referred to Lanius major, rather than to Lanius
excubitor, I am unable to say. The majority of
occurrences appear to refer to the South of Devon.

(SV)
On

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
LESSER GREY SHRIKE. —Lanius minor, Gmel.

A RARE visitant. In 1876, a simgle example was
captured near Plymouth, by a bird catcher on the
23rd of September. It was taken alive to Mr.
Peacock, a bird-stuffer, who at once reported it to
Mr. Gatcombe as a Great Grey Shrike, a mistake
that was rectified as soon as Mr. Gatcombe saw the
bird. It proved to be an immature specimen,
lacking the black frontal band, but distinguished
from the young of Lantus excubitor by its size and
plain white under parts; another distinction was
presented by the outer tail feather of the Lesser
Grey Shrike being altogether white, with only the
middle of its shaft black, (Zool. 1878. p. 5178).

RED-BACKED SHRIKE.—Lanius collurio, Linn.

A SUMMER visitant, local in its choice of breeding
haunts and varying in numbers in different seasons.
In the North of the County, Mr. Rawson considers
it comparatively common, and Mr. Mitchell’s
experience is similar, but elsewhere it is a scarce
bird. About Exeter, for example, it is com—
paratively rare, and though Mr. Gatcombe
met with many in the neighbourhood of Plymouth,
those observed were chiefly young birds, preparing
to leave the country in August and September.
During its stay with us, it feeds on a variety of
insects. At Teignmouth, Mr. Jordan found a tiger
moth impaled in a Shrike’s larder, but the food is
not always transfixed. In August 1880, the

36 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Editor spent many minutes one afternoon in
watching a brood of young Shrikes feeding greedily
on the caterpillars of a butterfly (Vanessa), which
they picked off from their food plant, the nettle,
and bolted whole.

WOODCHAT.—-Lanius pomeranus, Sparrman

A RARE visitant. Bellamy in 1839, included this
Shrike in his catalogue of the Birds of South Devon,
on the strength of an example ‘‘ shot at Mutley by
Pincombe of Devonport,” (Nat. Hist. of Devon p.
200). Mr. Prideaux recorded an immature bird, as
obtained at Kingsbridge, prior to 1852, (Zool. 1852.
p. 3474). Mr. Gatcombe purchased a female
Woodchat, captured near Plymouth, in October
1866, by a birdcatcher, the Shrike having dashed
down at one of his call-birds, (Zool. 1867 p. 557).
It was kept alive on raw liver for some days, and
eventually entered the collection of Mr. J. H.Gurney,
from whom I have been able to gather that the
bird was in active moult when caught, and a very
light-coloured specimen.

Family AMPELID A.
WAXWING.—Ampelis garrulus, Linn.

A RARE winter visitant, a few specimens have
occurred at long intervals, but the large flocks some-
times recorded in Eastern Britain, have never left
any mark on Devon, which seems to lie too far west
to be much favoured by this erratic species.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 37

Examples have been obtained at Kingskerswell,
Ashburton, Plymouth, Blackawton, Alphington,
Kingsbridge, and other districts. Mr. H. Nicholls

possesses two local specimens.

Family Musorcaprp a.
SPOTTED FLYCATCHER.—Muscicapa grisola, Linn.

A NUMEROUS summer visitant, arriving in our
gardens in May and nesting annually in the same
situations, wherever in fact suitable shelter happens
to be forthcoming.

PIED FLYCATCHER.—Muscicapa atricapilla, Linn.

A RARE summer visitant, observed by Mr. Gatcombe
on migration near Plymouth, and occasionally
recognised as a straggler in other parts of Devon.
At Ilsham,near Torquay, a Pied Flycatcher was
shot in April, 1866. Mr. Mitchell has only met
with the species twice ; once, some few years ago
he observed a pair in a small wood, where he
thought that they were nesting, and again in the
spring of 1889, when he observed asingle bird near
Tavistock. At Dulverton, on the eastern border of
Devon, the Rev. Prebendary Bassett identified a
Pied Flycatcher in the spring of 1888.
Family HiRuNDINID A.
SWALLOW.—Airundo rustica, Linn.

A SUMMER visitant, arriving in great numbers on the
South coast of Devon from a S.W. direction, and
nesting generally, though many only pass through on

38 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

migration. Mr. H. Nicholls adduces evidence to
prove that the Cuckoo sometimes deposits her egg
in a Swallow’s nest; the fact being that, a“ nearly
fledged” Cuckoo dropped down a high chimney
into a kitchen, a brood of callow Swallowings
having previously been precipitated through the
same shaft. Considering how reluctant the young
Cuckoo is to exercise its own powers, the case seems
to be a strong one, (Zool. 1869, p. 186).

MARTIN.—Chelidon urbica, (Linn).

A SUMMER visitant arriving rather later than the
Swallow, frequently prolonging its stay into
November and even December, on our southern
shores. Mr. Gatcombe on _ various occasions
observed Martins nesting in our seacliffs, a habit
which Mr. Rawson has noticed between Dawlish
and Starcross, and on other points of the coast.

SAND MARTIN.—Cotile riparia, (Linn).

AN ABUNDANT and early summer visitant, nesting in
our sandstone cliffs at Dawlish, and no doubt else-
where, as well as in railway cuttings and banks
inland.

Family CERTHID.
TREE CREEPER.—Certhia famiharis, Linn.

A common resident, nesting freely wherever old
timber affords it an abundance of insect life.
Mr. Rawson remarks that he frequently observes

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 39

Tree Creepers, when shooting in the woods in N.
Devon. Its active movements can be studied to
best advantage during severe frosts, when the Tree
Creeper will permit of a very close inspection,
being absorbed in a hungry search for hybernating
insects.

Family FRINGIUID As.
Subfamily FRINGILLIN A,
GOLDFINCH.—Carduelis elegans, Steph.

A RESIDENT and partial migrant; formerly numerous
but of late years a scarce bird. The Exeter Bird-
catchers assure me that many perished in the severe
weather of the winter 1880-1, but there can be no
doubt that its decrease is chiefly due to persecution
at their hands. <A pair of Goldfinches nested in an
apple tree in our garden five years ago, and a few
pairs always breed in private grounds, especially
orchards. Mr. Rawson writes that the Goldfinch
was at one time a common bird at Braunton, and
that a few pairs still breed in that district. In July,
1879, the Editor observed many family parties of
Goldfinches, on the North Coast of Somerset and
Devon, especially near Lynton, and the species is
still numerous near Porlock in early autumn.
During the winter months small parties of Gold-
finches wander over the county in search of food,
but the waste lands, upon which they formerly
found an abundance of food, have generally been
taken into cultivation.

40 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
SISKIN.—Chrysomitris spinus, (Linn).

A winter and spring visitant, of rare occurrence on
the north coast, but more frequently met with in
South Devon, both in winter, autumn and the spring
of the year. I have shot the Siskin, myself, at
Broadelyst ; Baron A. von Hiigel met with it in
January, at Torquay; considerable numbers are
sometimes caught near Exeter, and Mr. H. Nicholls
often observes small flocks of Siskins near Kings-
bridge. At Plymouth, Mr. Gatcombe often met with
the bird, in 1880, as early as September, in which
month some young Siskins were captured in company
with Goldfinches; in the spring of the same year a
flock of thirty or forty Siskins visited the larch
trees in Bickleigh Vale, and four were shot; their
stomachs were full of insects, (Zool. 1880. p. 250).
In winter these birds chiefly frequent the alder
bushes in search of food.

GREENFINCH.—Ligurinus chloris, (linn).

AN ABUNDANT resident, nesting in our gardens and
shrubberies, flocking in the open fields in autumn.
Mr Gatcombe records that extraordinary numbers
of Greenfinches visited Plymouth, in the beginning
of the winter 1884-5, remaining until the end of
March. Places in the docks, where ships discharged
their cargoes of grain actually swarmed with them,
and when on the ground, although mingled with the
usual vast flocks of Sparrows frequenting the
locality, their plumage gave a strong green tint to

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 41

the assembled flock. Hundreds were caught by the
birdcatchers, (Zool. 1885. p. 377).

HAWFINCH.—Coccothraustes vulgaris, Pall.

A WINTER visitant, of irregular occurrence, obtained
as early as October, at Plymouth in 1878, but
chiefly noticed as a shy visitant to gardens in mid-
winter. It visits the neighbourhood of Kingsbridge
in most winters, I possess a specimen, shot near
Exeter, and during the winter 1889-90, Hawfinches
were reported all over the county, occurring singly
or in twos and threes, and frequenting private
grounds notwithstanding the mildness of the winter.
The Hawfinch has not yet been found breeding in
Devon, but in 1849, a specimen, now in the Exeter
Museum, was shot at Starcross, as late as the 26th ot
April. Ifthe birds that visit us in winter were
less persecuted, it is possible that some of them
might remain to breed, but Mr. Gatcombe regarded
the Hawfinch as an uncommon bird in Devonshire.

HOUSE SPARROW.—Passer domesticus. (Linn).

A RESIDENT species. Professor Newton, in the
‘fourth edition ” of ‘‘ Yarrell’s British Birds,” drew
attention to Mr. Brooking Rowe’s statement in his
Catalogueof 1863, that the House Sparrow was absent
from the moorland village of Shepstor, as being
the sole exception to its universal distribution in
- England known to him. It appears that, if this was
an exception in 1848, it is such no longer. The

42 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Rey. C. H. Crooke writes to me under date February
2nd, 1890, ‘I beg to say that Sparrows are by no
means uncommon in our parish (Shepstor), not
found perhaps in such large numbers as in some
towns and villages, but still frequently to be met
with. There are frequently none to be seen in our
roads or in our gardens, but, on the other hand,
given seed-time and fine weather or even hard
frost and snow, Sparrows and Robins, Blackbirds
and Thrushes, at other times invisible, put in an
appearance pretty freely.”

TREE SPARROW.—Passer montanus, (Linn).
A wINTER visitant, probably nesting in one or two
localities in South Devon. Mr. Gatcombe first met
with this species near Plymouth, in March, 1857,
when two Tree Sparrows were killed on a farm in
that district among other small birds. He had
never before met with the species in Devon. ‘The
Rev. F. J. Dickinson says, the Tree Sparrow was

So ouauall lec

unknown in the Kingsbridge district,
specimen was shot by Mr. Rumidge of Worthy,” in
January, 1888. Since then Dr. KE, A. 8. Elliot has
shot two specimens, so that there can be no
reasonable doubt but that the birds are indigenous,

but extremely local.
CHAFFINCH.—Fringilla celebs, Linn.

AN ABUNDANT resident in our woods and gardens,
the migratory movements of which are extensive,
often occurring early in autumn. ‘Thus, in the

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 43
middle of July, 1879, the Editor found swarms of

young birds assembled in woods above the sea, near
Lynton, adults being remarkable for their absence.
It seemed probable that these birds had just crossed
from South Wales. Certainly such extraordinary
numbers could not have been reared in the locality,
Similarly, a great number of Chaftinches, in company
with Skylarks, visited Lundy Island at 1 p.m. on
September 9th, 1880, with a fresh E.S.E. breeze,
(Migration Report for 1880, p. 104).

BRAMBLING.—Fringilla montifringilla, Linn.

A WINTER Visitant,of decidedly uncommon occurrence,
often associating with flocks of Chaffinches. I have
shot specimens at Broadclyst, Mr. Gatcombe met
with it near Plymouth, and Baron A. von Hiigel
records its presence at Torquay; most of the
occurrences taking place in February, when the birds
are probably beginning to move northwards. Its
occurrence at any season in North Devon is excep-
tional, but the Rev. M. A. Mathew records a male in
summer plumage, shot at Lankey near Barnstaple,
in 1856, on the remarkable date of July 20th. When
first observed, this solitary Brambling was flying
about a hedge in company with some Yellow
Buntings and Greenfinches, (Zool. 1857. p. 5346).

LINNET.—-Linota cannabina, (Linn).

AN ABUNDANT resident, nesting plentifully on our
Commons, and gathering into large flocks in early

44 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

autumn. The song of the male is usually delivered
from a spray of hawthorn or a furzetop.

LESSER REDPOLL.—Linota rufescens, (Vieill),

A WINTER visitant, plentiful about Exeter in autumn,
and of fairly general distribution at that season,
occasionally lingering into the summer. The Rey.
Prebendary Bassett has observed the Lesser Redpoll
near Dulverton, in Jane, and in July, 1879, the
Editor observed an old Redpoll feeding a newly
fledged nestling on the branch of an ash, near Lynton.

TWITE.—Linota flavirostris, (Linn).

A RARE autumn and winter visitant to our salt
marshes. The Rev. Murray A. Mathew has shot
specimens close to Barnstaple, and has also met with
it on high ground in North Devon. ‘There is no
satisfactory evidence of its visiting the South of the
County, though it may be conjectured that it some-
times strays westward, into the parts of the county
bordering on the English Channel.

BULLFINCH.—Pyrrhula europea, Vieill.

A CoMMON resident in our woods, both in North and
South Devon, much persecuted on account of its
destructiveness to buds, though subsisting during
the greater part of the year, on the seeds of the
Plantain and other weeds, berries of Privet, and
other wild fruit. Varieties of plumage occur and a
black specimen, formerly in Montagu’s collection,
exists in the British Museum.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 45
CROSSBILL.—Lovia curvirostra, Linn.

AN IRREGULAR visitant, most frequently met with in
South Devon ; but large flights sometimes visit North
Devon, as in 1868, when many were shot near
Barnstaple, (Zool. 1868, p. 1460), Mr. F. Pershouse
informs me that he possesses a pair of Crossbills
shot on Chappel Hill, Torquay, in March 1867,
when they were possibly breeding; the species
undoubtedly bred at Ogwell House, near Newton,
in 1839, the birds having been numerous during the
previous winter, Mr. Jordan saw the nest on the
10th of April, placed in a spruce fir, and similar in
structure to that of the Greenfinch. The female
Crossbill continued to attend the nest after her
mate had been shot, (Zool. 1848. p. 39). In South
Devon, the Crossbill has been procured in many
localities, at Kingsbridge, at Exmouth, (1888), at
Stoke Cannon and elsewhere, occurring in fact at
intervals in every month of the year.

PARROT CROSSBILL.— Loaia pityopsittacus, Bechst.

A RARE Visitant. Dr. Moore records that Mr. Newton
shot nine Parrot Crossbills near Millaton, in 1838,
but whether the birds were rightly referred to this
species, or were only large-billed specimens of the
Common Crossbill, I cannot say. I have examined
two undoubted Parrot Crossbills, shot in a planta-
tion near Exmouth, in 1888; a male and a female,
submitted tomeby Mr. Seward the local taxidermist.

46 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL.—Lozia leucoptera, Gmel.

A RARE visitant. A fine red male of this nearctic
species was found dead and partly covered with wet
sand in a crevice of some loose rocks on the shore at
‘xmouth, on September 17th, 1845, by Mr. E. B.
Fitton, who exhibited it at a meeting of the Zoological
Society on the 23rd of the same month, (P.Z.S.
1845. p. 91). My. Yarrell examined the bird in the
flesh, and added a figure of it to his “British Birds.”

Subfamily EMBERIZIN a.
CORN BUNTING.—Emoberiza miliaria, “inn.

A comMoN resident, varying in local abundance from
year to year, and rather rare near Tavistock, but
plentiful on the north coast as a rule; very abundant
in summer and winter alike, in my own district.
The Editor met with astonishing numbers at Berry
Head, in September 1880, but it is possible that
these may have been resting on migration. In
winter I have seen these Buntings feeding with
Sparrows and Yellow Buntings in the neighbourhood
of houses. Prebendary Bassett has observed the
species on Exmoor, though he considers it rare at
Dulverton.

YELLOW BUNTING.—Emberiza citrinella, Linn.

AN ABUNDANT resident, uniformly distributed in all
parts of Devon, except where the moorland limits
its breeding grounds.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 47

CIRL BUNTING.—E£mberiza cirlus, Linn.
A RESIDENT species, of somewhat partial diffusion.
Judging from my own experience alone, I should
consider this a scarce bird; for, even allowing for
increased numbers in some years, it is never really
abundant in my own district, though a few individ-
uals come under my notice at all seasons. Opinions
must vary with circumstances. Mr. Rawson,
for example, having paid special attention to the
Cirl Bunting, considers that it is well distributed in
both North and South Devon, especially the former,
and that it is a much more common bird than most
people imagine. Mr. Mitchell independently offers
exactly the same opinion as to N. Devon, though
he finds its numbers decrease in the centre and west
of the county. It may be considered as irregularly
distributed within our faunal limits. 'Thouch now
a well known breeding bird, its presence in Devon
was first ascertained in winter ; by Montagu, who shot
a couple of specimens in the winter of 1800. At this
season Cirl Buntings wander through our fields in
small flocks, sometimes associating with Yellow
Buntings. It breeds early, nesting in similar
positions to those adopted by the Yellow Bunting,
on a bank, or near the bottom of a hawthorn hedge,
or some kindred situation, and two broods are
usually reared, The female, when incubating, sits
closely, and will permit of a very near approach.
The song of the male commences early in the year,
and is usually delivered from the lower branches of

48 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

an elm, or the top of some hedgerow tree;
occasionally from a bare telegraph wire. It is
continued throughout August and September, and
may exceptionally be heard in winter ; Mr. Gatcombe
records that, on the 5th of December, 1873, he
noticed a male Cirl Bunting singing as vigorously
asin the spring of the year. He also remarked
that Cirl Buntings assembled with other small birds
to gather insects from heaps of decaying sea-weed
in the fields. In confinement, asin a state of liberty,
I have found the Cirl Bunting to be a shy, retiring
species ; but Montagu, whose classical description
of this species will be found in the Transactions of
the Linnean Society, (VIi, pp. 276-280), states that
a young male, which he reared by hand, ‘ was
always sufficiently tame to take insects from the
hand, shewing a great partiality to such a repast,
and when let out of the cage would catch flies in
the windows.” Another hand-reared Cirl Bunting,
also a male bird, is recorded by Mr. Fox of Kings—
bridge, to have paired with a female Canary, and to
have produced a hybrid, which ‘“ possessed the
habit of crushing hempseed with its hard bony
palate, instead of shelling it with the edges of the
bill, as in the Finch tribe.” (Zool. 1848. p. 2020).

REED BUNTING—Ainberiza scheniclus, Linn.

A RESIDENT, fairly numerous in wet situations on
the lower grounds, but seldom seen on Dartmoor or
Exmoor; in April, 1888, I met with a flock of

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 49

between twenty and thirty Reed Buntings in a
marshy piece of ground at Broadclyst, otherwise I
have only observed the species in pairs and small
family parties.

SNOW BUNTING.—Plectrophanes nivalis (inn).

A WINTER visitant, met with sparingly, chiefly on
the coasts of N. and 8. Devon, either singly or in
twos and threes, large flocks being quite unknown.
Stragglers occasionly appear early in October, and
in 1880, Mr. Gatcombe examined an adult shot near
Plymouth, in September, but mid-winter is the
season at which it is most frequently noticed. The
same localities are visited in successive years in the
Northam Burrows, Exmouth, Kingsbridge and
Devonport districts. Mr. Mitchell has only once
met with the Snow Bunting in Devonshire, a
solitary wanderer, observed on one of the highest
tors of Dartmoor, in the middle of winter.

Family STURNIDA.
STARLING.—Sturnus vulgaris, Linn.

AN ABUNDANT resident, nesting generally about our
houses and sheds, though fifty years ago Bellamy
could only say that it bred ‘‘in some few spots in
Devon ;” albeit even then occurring ‘‘ in great flocks
through the winter,” (Nat. Hist. of Devon. p, 203).
The flights of thousands, that collect at favourite
‘roosts’ during the autumn, exhibit many beautiful
exercises. The evergreen oaks in Polsloe Park,
D

50 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Exeter, used to constitute a favourite rendezvous
for these birds, but the ground is now built over.
Of equal interest are the migratory movements of this
species, which occurs at our lighthouses in large
numbers, either alone or in company with Skylarks,
Thrushes and other common birds. These migratory
movements are not confined to spring and autumn,
but sometimes occur in mid-winter. Thus a Starling
struck the Hartland Point L.H. on January 20th,
1882, and large numbers occurred at Lundy Island,
December 25th, 1880, arriving during the night
with afresh N.N.W. breeze (Migration Report for
1880, p. 108).

On the 15th of April, 1873, Mr. Gatcombe
examined (with a powerful pocket telescope) some
Starlings, near Plymouth. Among the number
‘‘ was a fine old bird that appeared to be altogether
of a beautiful glossy black, without any spots even
on the back” (Zool. 1875. p. 8566). It is possible
that this bird was an example of the Sardinian
Starling, (Stwrnus unicolor), which had associated
with the common birds in their winter quarters in
the south, and had migrated northwards in their
company ; but it is of course equally possible, that
the unspotted bird was only a melanoid variety of
Sturnus vulgaris. Myr. Backhouse believes Sturnus
unicolor to have been obtained in Yorkshire.

ROSE-COLOURED STARLING.—Pastor roseus, (Linn).

A RARE visitant, obtained at wide intervals of time,

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 51

chiefly during the summer months. Specimens have
been killed at Teignmouth, Aveton Gifford, Brixham,
Plymouth, Kingsbridge (twice), and in the neigh-
bourhood of Chudleigh, birds procured at these two
last localities being preserved in the Exeter Museum.
The Rev. Murray A. Mathew records another, shot
near Bideford in October 1875, (Zool. 1875 p. 4720).

Family CoRvVID&.
CHOUGH.—Pyrrhocorax graculus (Linn).

A RARE resident. A few Choucghs still breed on the
coasts of North and South Devon, but itis necessary
in the interests of the birds to abstain from naming
precise localities. It may suffice to say that Mr.
Rawson is intimately acquainted with their haunts,
and that the birds have been seen by Mr. Aphn,
Mr. Mitchell and other Ornithologists. Mr.
Gatcombe unfortunately examined many Choughs
killed inS.W. Devon and Cornwall, and suggested
that in autumn they are partially migrant. Mr. Toll
occasionally observes a Chough on the banks of the
River Dart. Of stuffed specimens, a specimen
obtained near ‘Torquay, exists in the local maseum.
two others, preserved in the Exeter Museum, formerly
belonged to a flock of Choughs kept by the late Mr.
R. Sanders, at Exeter, and two specimens obtained
in North Devon are in my collection. The Chough
was formerly very numerous at Lundy Island, but
Mr. Howard Saunders informed the Editor that its
numbers had been reduced very low, if not fatally

52 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

so, by the Peregrine Falcon, which is a great enemy
to Choughs. Montagu’s description of the habits of
a tame bird has been too often quoted to require
repetition here.

NUTCRACKER — Nweifraga caryocatactes (Linn).

A RARE visitant. Montagu states that ‘in August,
1808, one of these birds was shot in the North of
Devon, now in the collection of Mr. Comyns,”’ (Orn.
Dict. 1802). Dr. Moore adds another to the list,
shot by Mr. Tucker of Dawlish, near Washford
Pyne Moor, in 1829, (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 179).
There are other reports of Nutcrackers supposed to
have been seen in the county; Graves figures a
Nuteracker, with this remark; ‘The specimen
from which our figure was executed, was shot in
Devonshire, and presented by Mr. Hamilton of
Parliament Street, to Mr. Bullock, proprietor of the
London Museum,” (Brit. Orn. vol. 1), but no recent
occurrences are known to me. The Rev.G. C.
Green has kindly called my attention to a Nut-
cracker preserved in the possession of Mr. L. Sparrow
of Strode, near Ivybridge. Mr. Sparrow believes
the specimen to have been obtained by his father,
but is unable to furnish an exact date.

JAY.—Garrulus glandarius (Linn).
A coMMoN resident in our wooded districts, In the
Tavistock district, Mr. Mitchell generally finds the
nest in tall bolly and thorn bushes, but he has
exceptionally known a Jay’s nest built in tall furze.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 53
MAGPIE.—Pica rustica (Scop).
A nuMERoUs resident, partial to fir woods, generally
flying in pairs, but droves of seven or eight birds
are not uncommonly seen with us in winter. In
July, 1867, Mr. G. F. Mathew, while walking in the
neighbourhood of Buckfastleigh, observed a
Magpie grubbing for food in a roadside hedge. A
close inspection revealed to Mr. Mathew and the
friend who accompanied him, that this individual
‘“nossessed a bill of a bright /emon colour at the base,
but of a darker hue towards the top ” (Zool. 1867.
p- 1016). Mr. Mathew suggested that this rare
variation might be due to some disease inherent to
old age.
JACKDAW.—Corvus monedula, Linn.

AN ABUNDANT resident, nesting in rocks and old
quarries inland, in Rookeries, and in the cliffs of
North Devon, where Mr. Rawson testifies to its
ereat increase of late years. I have often found it
breeding in old trees, and its fondness for rabbit
holes is well known. Many Jackdaws frequent the
towers and pinnacles of Exeter Cathedral.

CARRION CROW.—Corvus corone, Linn.
A RESIDENT, but diminishing in numbers, and not
abundant in North Devon, though still of pretty
general occurrence in timbered districts.

HOODED CROW.—Corvus corniz, Linn.

A WINTER visitant, of decidedly uncommon occur-
rence, through stragglers are occasionally obtained.

54 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Dr. Moore records it as at one time met with on the
coast pretty frequently, but certainly its visits of
late years have been very sparse.

ROOK.—Corvus frugilegus, Linn.
A most abundant resident, as its numerous Rookeries
testifiy, but these are of course only resorted to im
the breeding season, the birds at other times
congregating to roost in large woods. Writing
under date of September 21st, 1873, Mr. Gatcombe
records observing ‘‘ sixteen Rooks flying round and
dipping in the water among a flock of Gulls, at the
stern of the Royal Adelaide in the (Plymouth)
Harbour. Acting like Gulls has become quite a
habit with the Rooks in our Harbours ” (Zool. 1873
p- 3393).
RAVEN.—-Corvus corax, Linn.

A RESIDENT, isolated pairs having nested on the sea-
cliffs of North and South Devon from time
immemorial, and others breeding on Dartmoor,
Mr. Warburton informs me that a pair frequent the
cliffs at Babbacombe, ‘Torquay, and others breed at
Watcombe, near Ilfracombe, and at Baggy Point;
it is however much persecuted. Mr. Gatcombe often
examined young Ravens brought in to Plymouth
dealers from Dartmoor and the sea coast. An adult,
which I examined in the flesh, was shot at Downes,
Crediton, October 12th, 1888. Mir. Ac) 3Ee
Macpherson, when on the rocks at Babbacombe in
March 1887, saw one of the pair of Ravens that nest

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 55

there, carrying a fairly long branch for the repair of
its nest, not however holding it by the bill, but
carrying it in its feet, a curious departure from the
usual habits of the British Corvide. The Kev.
Prebendary Bassett writes that he sometimes sees a
Raven on Exmoor, and that it is reputed to have
once been a breeding species in the Dulverton
District, on our eastern border. Mr. Mitchell of
Tavistock writes, that the Raven ‘‘is often to be
seen flying over Dartmoor in pairs, and I have seen
them breeding on the cliffs of North and South
Devon. <A pair nest at Rhames Head, near
Plymouth, building in February or even earlier.
Another pair builds every year in Morwell Rocks,
inaccessible rocks on the Devon side of the Tamar,
about four miles from Tavistock. A pair breed in
an old, inaccessible lime quarry near Okehampton.
Three or four years ago, a pair built three separate
nests on Vixen Tor, Dartmoor, but did not lay in
either, being disturbed. <A pair used to build in a
steep rock on the Tavy, about three miles from here.
1 looked into the nest one year and saw three young
ones. They do not breed there now, but the rock is
still called the ‘‘Raven’s Rock.”” Ravens seem very
playfulsometimes. [have often watched them circling
in pairs over Dartmoor toying with each other, and
giving vent to their hoarse croak.” A few pairs of
Ravens may still be found breeding in the cliffs between

Sidmouth and Lyme Regis; Mr. Hine Haycockinforms
me that a pair nest annually in the cliffs at Peak Hill.

56 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Family ALAUDIDA.
SKY LARK.—Alauda arvensis, Linn.

A PLENTIFUL resident, of general distribution, large
flocks visiting usin autumn and winter. A_ buff
variety, obtained at Hoopern, is in Exeter Museum,
and albinos are procured.

WOOD LARK.—Alauda arborea, Linn.

A tocau resident, fairly represented near Kings-
bridge, Kingskerswell, Plymouth, Exeter, and some
other localities, but much persecuted by birdeatchers,
and uncommon in North Devon; on the whole a
scarce bird. Mr.Gatcombe generally observed a
few pairs in spring, and in autumn met with a few
parties of young birds in the same fields. Some
times he remarked individual Woodlarks ‘ perched
for a length of time on telegraph wires, the long
spurs sticking out from the hinder toes producing
rather a singular effect” (Zool. 1872. p. 3258).

SHORE LARK.—Otocorys alpestris (Linn).

A RARE winter visitant. <A single bird was shot at
Northam Burrows, January 2nd, 1875, (Zool. 1875.
p. 4337). Another shot on Dawlish Warren, is
preserved in the Exeter Museum.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 57
OrvpEerR PICARL.

Family CYPSELID&.

SWIFT.—Cypselus apus (Linn).
A coMMoN summer visitant, arriving generally in
May, but sometimes during the last days of April;
recorded to have prolonged its stay in one instance
until the 27th of November (Yarrell B.B. 4th. ed.
vol. II p. 3865), though it usually leaves the
County in August. Its high soaring flight and harsh
scream are known to all. It nests chiefly about old
towers and under cottage eaves, but the cliffs of our
precipitous coasts afford breeding stations to some
colonies of this bird, Thus, Mr. Gatcombe instances
colonies of Swifts established at Seaton and Beer
Head (Zool. 1872. p. 3168). Others might be
cited.

ALPINE SWIFT.—Cypselus melba (Linn).

A RARE visitant. ‘‘ When shooting along the coast
[near Ilfracombe] with my brother,” writes Mr,
Rawson, ‘‘on the 4th October, 1876, he shot a
young specimen of the Alpine Swift (Cypselus
melba, Illiger) which was flying about with two
others in company with C. apus, of which there were
about a score. We thought they would lodge on
the cliff for the night, but nothing was to be seen of
them next morning. Unfortunately the other two
never came within gunshot. I have the skin in my
possession” (Zool. 1880. p. 108). This is a late
occurrence for the British Isles, but not the latest.

58 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

A specimen of this large Swift, sold at Stevens,
May 22nd 1890, was killed in Surrey on the 8th of
October, 1841, ze. four days later than the Devon-
shire bird.
Family CAPRIMULGID.2.
NIGHTJAR.—Caprimulqus europeus, Linn.

A suMMER visitant, frequenting our moors, commons,
and the skirts of large woods, though seldom seen
during the day. I have found it rather plentiful on
Woodbury Common; Bickleigh Vale, near Plymouth,
is another favourite locality. Mr. Mitchell finds
the Nightjar fairly represented in West and also in
North Devon, often hearing them flit past him after
dark, when in pursuit of insects.

Family Pictp™.

Subfamily Pictn.a.
GREATSPOTTED WOODPECKER.—-Dendrocopus mayor(Linn).
A scARCE resident in our more extensive woodlands,
rare as a breeding species. Mr. Gatcombe recorded
his opinion that ‘ this species is much more
commonly met with near Plymouth during winter
than at any other time during the year;” an
experience no doubt, founded on the immigration
of this Woodpecker from the Continent in late
autumn. I havea pairin my collection obtained
near Exeter, and have met with the species at
Broadclyst. Mr. Parfitt records the Greater Spotted
Woodpecker as having bred in Exwick Woods, and
also near Ashburton.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 59
LESSER SPOTTED WOODPECKER.

Dendrocopus minor (Linn).

A SCARCE resident, not so uncommon with us as the
Great Spotted Woodpecker, and perhaps overlooked
from its preference for the upper branches of trees ;
but still a local bird, no where numerous. Mr.
Mitchell has met withit in N. Devon, others have
been shot near Plymouth, Exeter, Torquay and in
S. Devon. The late Dr. Scott found a nest of this
species in an old apple-tree in one of the Nursery
Gardens near Exeter, in 1847, several birds being
killed about the same time (Zool. 1849. p. 2384).
I have not as yet found the nest of this Woodpecker,
but one a male bird regularly visits an ancient oak
in my father’s park, the noise that this small bira
creates, in tapping the hollow branches of the tree,
may be heard for a very great distance.

| GREAT BLACK WOODPECKER.—Picus martius, Linn. |

[A DOUBTFUL visitant, not included in the present
census of the avifauna of Devon, but here inserted
in order that its claims to be considered a Devon-
shire bird may be open to criticism, ‘The Rey. M.
A. Mathew writes that he thinks the claims of this
species are valid, ‘In a collection of birds formed
by the late Mr. Newton of Millaton Hall, Bridestowe,
on the N. W. borders of Dartmoor, is a specimen ot
the Great Black Woodpecker which was shot about
the year, 1850, in the neighbourhood of Crediton.
I have seen this bird, a female, now in rather a

60 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

dilapidated condition, and presenting the appearance
of having been mounted from a freshly killed
specimen. Indeed, Mr. Newton’s daughter informed
us (this was in the summer of 1876), that she well
remembers the day when her father received the
bird, and his excitement at adding such a rarity to
his collection. He wasill in bed at the time from
gout, and made her write off at once to his friend
Dr. Moore of Plymouth to acquaint him of this
most interesting acquisition” (Rev. M. A. Mathew, in
lit). Dr. Moore evidently believed the specimen to be
authentic, since he retained it as late as 1848, in the
account of the ornithology of Dartmoor which he
furnished to Rowe’s Perambulation of Dartmoor.
The Rey. Clement Ley writes that he is well
acquainted with the note of the Great Black Wood-
pecker, and that the last occasion he heard it ‘‘ was
in 1876, at Mount Edgecombe in Devonshire,” and
that ‘“‘ waiting for a few minutes, we got a fine view
of the bird,” (B. of Herefordshire, p. 92).

It may be interesting to add that Mr. Brooking
Rowe included the Great Black Woodpecker in his
list of 1863, but afterwards struck it out from the
revised copy which he sent to the British Museum
Library, as though he had changed his mind about

it.]
GREEN WOODPECKER.—Gecinus viridis (Linn).

A FAIRLY common resident, during the spring months,
its laughing cry may frequently be heard in our

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 61

larger stretches of woodland. It often feeds upon
the ground and in banks of hedges ; both Mr.
Mitchell, and myself, have seen it thus engaged,
apparently searching for ants; one, however, that
Mr. Gatcombe dissected, had its stomach crammed
with the white larvee of a wood-boring beetle. In
severe weather this bird — suffers severely ;
Mr. Gatcombe saw many taken to the Plymouth
birdstuffers at such times, the males often being in
‘exceedingly fine plumage.” Mr. Mitchell writes
that a few winters ago, during a prevalence of sharp
weather, a boy caught a Green Woodpecker alive in
a deep hole in the bank of a hedge, where the poor
bird had crept presumably for shelter. ‘This was in
the neighbourhood of Tavistock. In July, 1880,
young Green Woodpeckers were unusually plenti-
ful near Plymouth; many were caught alive, and
others killed in various ways (Zool. 1881. p 197).
A curious departure from the usual habits of this
Woodpecker stands recorded by Mr. Gatcombe,
who wrote, under date February 5th 1873, “ walked
along the coast to Bovisand, where I observed......
a Green Woodpecker...... busily searching for food
along the face of the cliffs overhanging the sea,
some miles from any kind of wood. I have often
observed the Green Woodpecker on the bare coast
before” (Zool. 1875. p. 3466). This interesting
observation has been ¢ndependently corroborated,
and confirmed, by the Rey. F. J. Dickinson, who
writes, ‘A pairof Green Woodpeckers built their nest

62 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

last year (1889) on the cliff, facing the sea, near
Hallsands, Start Bay. The nest was in a sort of
little hole formed by the rock and an old stump. I
saw the birds frequently the whole of last summer”
(in lit. March 3rd, 1890),
Subfamily IYNGIN®.
WRYNECK.—Jyne torquilla, Linn.

AN IRREGULAR summer visitant, rare in N. Devon
and only known to me as a straggler in the South.
Mr, Gatcombe recorded a Wryneck killed at
Plymouth in April, with the remark that the species
is rare in the West of England. Dr. Scott reported
another caught at Exeter, in 1848, adding that
although he was assured that the Wryneck was found
near the city not unfrequently, yet he could find very
few people acquainted with the bird, from which he
inferred that it was seldom obtained. A specimen
in the Exeter Museum was killed at Topsham, May
30th, 1841; two others, both shot at Ilsham, exist
in the Torquay Museum. ‘The Wryneck was
reported to Mr. A. G. More (1865), as being ‘‘ very
rare in Devon;” the Rev. Murray A. Mathew has
never found it to breed in the County, although on
the look out for its doing so for the last twenty-five

years.
Family AUCEDINIDA.

KINGFISHER.—Alcedo isyida, Linn.

A RESIDENT, breeding in the neighbourhood of most
of our rivers, the Exe for example, which is a good

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 63

deal affected by Kingfishers; scarce only, where
persecuted. The streams on Dartmoor are not so
well adapted to its habits and Mr. Mitchell finds it
searce in the Tavistock district; he has often met
with it on the Taw in North Devon, and _ has also
seen it on the sea coast near Plymouth.

Family Coractip 2.
ROLLER.—Coracias garrula, Linn.
ARARE visitant, obtained on three or four occasions in
the County. Mr. Rowe records a Roller killed at
Budleigh Salterton in September, 1841; another
was killed on Spriddlestone I’arm near Yealmpton,
June 2Ist, 1886, and a third was shot near
Alphington, Exeter, on October 20th of the same
year. The first named instance was the only one
known to Mr. Rowe in 1863.
Family M®RoPID a
BEE-EATER.—Merops apiaster, Linn.

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore writes in 1837, “a fine
specimen was shot at Leigham, in April 1818 ;
another at Ivybridge, in 1822; another is in Mr.
Rowe’s collection.” Mr. H. Nicholls has written to
inform me that he possesses a Bee-eater shot near
Kingsbridge in the spring of 1854. Mr. Rowe, in
1863 remarked “ there has been no occurrence tor
many years.” Mr. L. M. Kennaway states that
he twice saw a Bee-eater in the neighbourhood of
Exeter during the summer of 1889 (Zool. 1890. p.
100).

64 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Family Upupip@.
HOOPOE.—Upupa epops, Linn.
AN IRREGULAR spring and autumn visitant, probably
of annual occurrence in the County at the seasons
of migration. It has occurred also at Midsummer,
e.g. a specimen killed near Exeter, July 2nd, 1820,
still preserved in the Albert Memorial Museum. As
instances of spring occurrences, the following may
be cited ; one shot at Torquay, April 1851 ; another
obtained at Plymouth, May 1871; two killed at
Ivybridge, April 10th, 1872; a fifth procured at
Plymouth, April 19th, 1888. This list might be
greatly extended. Mr. Dickinson, for example,
observed the arrival of a Hoopoe on the coast at
Torcross, one rough day in April, 1888. ‘It came
from a Southerly direction, flying along the beach,
and alighted about fifty yards from me, when it
erected its crest and walked about for a few minutes.
It then flew inland” (in lit. March Ist 1890).
Mr. Cecil Smith reports a bird killed at Moreton ; half
a dozen were obtained in the Kingsbridge district
alone, between 1840 and 1847. Mr. H. Nicholls has
two, killed in September; the Rev. J. Pitt sends me
word of a Hoopoe which he saw upon his lawn at
Torquay, August 26th, 1888; Mr. H. A. Drew shot
another in September 1889, when trying a mangold
field near Exeter, for Partridges. Polwele speaks of
the Hoopoe as well-known to Devonshire Naturalists
at the end of the last century, and even cites the
occurrence of a single bird in the month of December.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 65
Family CucvLip”.
CUCKOO.—Cuculus canorus, Linn.

A NUMEROUS summer visitant, of general distribution,
arriving in April, leaving in August and September.
Mr. Mitchell writes: ‘‘I once found in N. Devon a
Pied Wagtail’s nest with some Wagtail’s eggs in it,
but wnder these eggs, and under the lining of the nest
as well, I found two Cuckoo's eggs. The eggs must
have been laid before the nest was finished, and the
Wagtails must have built over the Cuckoo’s eggs.
The Cuckoo generally lays in the nests of the
Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit and Hedge Sparrow.”
Reference has already been made to eggs of this
species deposited in the nests of the Grey
Wagtail and Swallow ; another nest often favoured
ina similar way is that of the Redbreast. This
bird feeds largely upon the caterpillars of the Fox-
moth and other common insects during its stay
with us, ‘‘ The peasantry of Devon and Cornwall,”
writes Mr. Laskey, ‘‘ as far as I have had connection
with them, believe the Cuckoo feeds on the eggs of
other birds ; and that the little bird, as they call it,
accompanying them (the Tyna torquilla or summer
bird), searches for them for that purpose, and feeds
him” (Gentleman’s Magazine, 1796, p, 116).

66 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
OrvER STRIGES.

Family StTRicipé.
BARN OWL.—Strix flammea, Linn.

A RESIDENT species. Mr. Mitchell considers the
Barn Owl scarce in the Tavistock district but
Mr. Rawson has met with it commonly in North
Devon, and I find it pretty generally distributed
throughout the Southern portions of the County.

LONG-EARED OWL.—4svo otus (Linn).

A WINTER visitant, fairly numerous in some seasons,
in others little observed. Large flights appear in
certain autumns; Mr. Gatcombe examined a good
many specimens killed near Plymouth in different
years. Mr. H. Nicholls informs me that in
November and December, 1875, more than twenty
specimens were brought into Kingsbridge to be
stuffed, and that every little wood in the neigh-
bourhood was crowded with them. In the winter
of 1888, on the other hand, he only saw two
specimens. The Rev. Murray A. Mathew includes
this species in a list of those breeding in Devon ;
I have not, myself, met with the Long-eared Owl
during the nesting time, within the limits here
treated of.

SHORT-EARED OWL.—Asio accyntrinus (Pall).

A WINTER visitant, often numerous in South Devon
in early winter, nor are flights unknown in North
Devon, but its movements are irregular, very few

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 67

examples being some times noticed as compared
with the comparative plenty of other years. Mr, A.
H. Macpherson has taken great pains to ascertain
whether this species ever breeds in Devon, and his
enquiries up to the present time only show that it
has sometimes been confused with the Tawny Owl,
which often nests in rabbit holes, and rarely in open
heather.

TAWNY OWL.—Syrnaium aluco (inn).

A constant resident and early breeder, fairly
plentiful in the wooded portions of the county, but
almost unrepresented in moorland districts. The
specimens that have come under my notice display
considerable variations in colour, between the two
well marked phases of gray and ferruginous.

SNOWY OWL.—WNyctea scandiaca (Linn).

A RARE visitant, but has occurred in several instances.
A specimen from the ‘‘ Ross Collection,” in the
Exeter Museum is said to have been obtained at
Exmouth. Another, obtained near Plymouth,
entered the collection of the Rev. W. 8. Hore (Zool.
1876. p. 4900), and Dr. Moore records a third
specimen. Two Snowy Owls were undoubtedly
taken in 1876, during or subsequent to ‘‘very severe
weather.’ Of these, the first, a small male bird,
examined by Mr. Gatcombe, was shot on the 15th
of March, on Ditsworth Rabbit Warren, Dartmoor,
by the little grandson of the Warrener. The

68 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

second was trapped on Exmoor upon the 22nd of the
same month, having previously been observed by a
shepherd to kill two hares in succession. ‘‘ A trap
baited with the remains of one of these two hares,”’
writes the Rev. M. A. Mathew, ‘soon proved fatal
to the splendid bird” (Zool. 1876. p. 4900). The
Exmoor bird turned out to be a female; it is
possible that the two birds were migrating North in
company, but had become separated before the first
was killed on Dartmoor.

LITTLE OWL.—Athene noctua (Scop).

A RARE Visitant. Dr. Moore writes in 1837 :“‘ Very
rare; one was shot by Mr. Comyns of Dawlish ;
another was sent to Mr. Rowe for preparation.”
A third is said to have been killed at Downes near
Crediton, in 1851, but Mr. Rowe did not apparently
know of it, for he writes in 1863 that: ‘‘ Only two
specimens have been obtained, both many years
since.”

EAGLE OWL.—[ Bubo ignavus, Forst. |

[A DouBTFUL visitant. Dr. Moore writes in 1837 :
‘‘T have only seen one specimen in Devonshire, and
that in a living state, near Honiton, in 1820” (Mag.
of Nat. Hist. 1837, p.115). If Dr. Moore was
correct in his identification, and the bird had not
escaped from confinement, no doubt the species may
be retained in the county list; but the absence of
fuller particulars renders its inclusion open to
criticism. |

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 69
OrpER ACCIPITRES.

Family FALCONIDZ.
MARSH HARRIER.—Ctrcus @ruginosus (Linn).

A RARE visitant, believed to have formerly nested on
Dartmoor, which furnished Devonshire specimens
to the Exeter Museum. Of late years it has been
chiefly remarkable for its absence; the only recent
specimen recorded, is a male bird, in the second
year’s plumage, shot at Slapton Ley on November
Ist, 1875, in the act of capturing a Coot. This is
the only specimen of the Marsh Harrier that Mr. R.
P. Nicholls has known to be obtained in the Kings-
bridge district (Zool. 1876. p. 4761). Mr. Rowe
speaks of this species as formerly numerous on our
moorlands, and Polwhele alludes to it as the Moor
Buzzard and as being destructive to game.

HEN HARRIER.—Cireus cyaneus (Linn).

A Rare resident. ‘Though Polwhele does not appear
to name the Hen Harrieras a Devonshire bird, it
was certainly well established in the county a few
years later, when Montagu investigated its habits
and plumage. In 1802 we find Montagu remarking:
‘“ During the whole of one summer we happened to
be situated where we saw several Hen Harriers
every day, frequently three or four on wing
together; and yet, from the month of March to
September, we never saw but one Ringtail”’ (Orn.
Dict. not paged). He then added :‘‘ It is remarkable

70 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

the young have never been taken and bred up
to ascertain the fact,” ce. whether the ‘‘ Ringtail ”
was really the female Hen Harrier. The significance
of this comment was shown in 1807; on the 5th of
May, in that year, Montagu read a paper on ‘‘ Some
interesting additions to the Natural History of
Falco cyaneus and hyargus” (Linn. Soc. Trans. Vol.
IX. p. 182). He stated that a servant of his friend
the Rev, Mr. Vaughan found a nest of this Harrier,
composed of sticks rudely put together, nearly flat,
and placed on some fallen branches of furze. It
contamed one addled egg and three very small
young ones, covered with white down. The old
male was shot and the young were taken in due
course. ‘In about a month it was evident trom
size, that there was but one male.” A female died,
but the male and second female lived into the
following year, and satisfied their owner that the
‘Ringtail’’ was the female Hen Harrier. The
researches of Dr. Heysham of Carlisle, had in
reality set the matter at rest some years earlier,
but Montagu deserves all credit for his successful
experiment.

At the present time the Hen Harrier is,
unfortunately, a rare bird in Devonshire, though
the Rev M. A. Mathew believes that it still nests
within our faunal limits. He records a fine male
killed near Barnstaple, in April 1866 ; the late Mr.
J. H. Gurney examined an unusually pale female,
killed at Haccombe, May 1871 (Zool. 1866. p. 267).

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 71

A bird in the collection of the Earl of Morley was
killed at Blagdon, a pair were killed at Chagford in
1871, there are two local birds in the Exeter
Museum, one of them killed near Exeter, December
1875; Mr. Hamling records another, killed at
Heanton, near Barnstaple, December 1889, and my
collection includes a Hen Harrier killed in 8. Devon.

MONTAGU’S HARRIER.—Circus cineraceus (Mont).

A RARE summer visitant, occasionally nesting
in Devon. Montagu added this Harrier to our list
on the strength of a bird killed near Kingsbridge,
and in 1808 observed a pair of these birds which he
thought were nesting. But Mr. Tucker, ‘ the
author of the Ornithologia Danmoniensis ” (Montagu
Supplement. 1813), first ascertained positively that
the species bred with us. When visiting Montagu’s
Museum in 1808, Mr. Tucker was shewn a specimen
and recognised that it was identical with a bird that
he had supposed to be only a varvety of the Hen
Harrier. ‘The gamekeeper of Mr. Templer of
Stover had in fact killed a pair of Montagu’s Harriers
that very summer, and had nailed them up, with
their three young ones, against the garden wall.
Mr. Tucker had seen them thus suspended, and took
down the male bird as being an unusual specimen,
but the female and nestlings had been allowed to rot
upon the gibbet. Curiously enough, another nest
of Montagu’s Harrier was discovered in the same
district in July, that same year. It was placed on

72 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

the ground, among furze, and contained an addled
egg and three young ones. Mr. Tucker supposed
this second nest to be that of the Hen Harrier, but
took and reared the young, which in due time
proved to be Montagu’s Harriers. The year
following, Mr. Tucker found a third nest of
Montagu’s Harrier, placed among furze, like
the last, on a hill near Ashburton. This also
contained three young Harriers and a single addled
ege. |

Coming now to recent records, we find Gatcombe
recording “A magnificent adult male Montagu’s
Harrier” killed at Trowlesworthy, Dartmoor, April
1872, with the comment; ‘‘Immature Montagu’s
Harriers are now and then obtained on our moors,
but the fully adults are rarely seen” (Zool. 1872. p.
3101). It was of this bird, that Gatcombe wrote
on May 3rd to John Gould; “A few days ago I
had a fine old male Montagu’s Harrier brought to
me. It was killed on Dartmoor, and from its crop
and stomach I took no less than fourteen lizards of
two kinds” (Introduction to Birds of Great Britain,
p. 40). The late Mr. Gurney records a beautiful
adult pair of the dark race of this Harrier, killed in
N. Devon, May 1870 (Zool. 1870. p. 2261).
Shopland, the taxidermist, found lizards, a slowworm
a field mouse, and some Skylark’s eggs, in the
stomachs of these birds. Mr. Nicholls found a
female, killed near Kingsbridge, May 1847, to
contain Skylark’s eggs. Mr. G. I’. Mathew records

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 73

a brood of this Harrier killed near Barnstaple in
1868, and the Editor believes that he refers to the
same specimens that Mr. Howard Saunders has
reported to him. ‘I saw the young Montagu’s
Harriers,” says Mr. Saunders, “ at the back of the
Lyndale Hotel, Lynmouth, about the middle of
August, 1868 ; I was told that the keeper at
Simondsbath had trapped the parents. I bought
the birds, and some years afterwards, when my
collection got too big, I made a present of the case
to the Rev. W. Lawson, then Vicar of Lynton.
The nest was probably in Devon, but it might have
beenin Somerset. Last year (1888), I saw an adult
female coming back from Malmsmead, and three
young birds were several times seen hovering at
once over the drives on the hill above our house at
Porlock. I noticed that these young Harriers
hovered a good deal after the manner of Kestrils,
though less stationary. These birds were all seen
in Somerset, though close to the Devon border.”
Mr. Rawson examined in the flesh a young bird
of this species, killed at Santon, N. Devon, August
1885. The Earl of Morley has another, killed at
Blagdon, and a few others exist in local collections.

BUZZARD.—Buteo vulgaris, Leach.

A RESIDENT species. “In the North of the County,”
writes Mr. Rawson, “ it is still holding its ground.
I knew three nests this year and took one clutch of
three. I have come across six pairs altogether.

74 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

One nest I have known for sixteen years, and with
one or two exceptions it has been used year after
year. I have often peered into the nest with my
glasses, and coveted the richly-marked eggs.”
Mr. Mitchell has also observed the Buzzard
breeding on the North Coast. Gatcombe records it
as breeding annually in South Devon; e.g. in woods
upon the banks of the Tamar; similarly, the late
Mr. Gurney noted that a pair nestedin a wood at
Lustleigh annually, There can be no doubt that,
formerly, the Buzzard was quite a common bird in
most of our well timbered districts. When visiting
Rhame Head on March 20th, 1872, Mr. Gatcombe
observed ‘‘ sitting on a rock a fine Common Buzzard
which seemed to have been perfectly gorged; ”
Gatcombe found that the wild Buzzard took a
variety of food, including slowworms (Anguis
fragilis); tame birds were partial to earthworms,
‘which they would regularly hunt for on the grass
plots after rain” (Zool. 1880. p. 250). This species
varies greatly in colouration. The Rev. Murray A.
Mathew records a female trapped near Lynmouth,
as ‘‘nearly a pure white all over, the back of the
head, wings, scapulars and upper tail coverts being
narrowly barred with wood brown ” (Zool. 1859. p-
6602).

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD.—<Archibuteo lagopus (Gmel).

A RARE winter visitant, immature birds occasionally
wander West into Devon, as in the winter 1876-77,

or

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. Ti

when examples of this species were killed on both
Exmoor and Dartmoor. The Rev. M. A. Mathew
once obtained a very dark example, which bore a
close resemblance to the North American form of
the Rough-legged Buzzard. Its food consists
chiefly of small mammals, one, that Gatcombe
dissected, contained the remains of a small rabbit.

SEA EAGLE.—Aaliaétus albicilla Chinn).

A RARE visitant, in immature plumage. Dr. Moore
states in his account of the Ornithology of
Dartmoor, contributed to Rowe’s Perambulation of
Dartmoor (1845), that Mr. Gosling of Leigham
informed him that a tradition claimed the Dewerstone
Rock asa former eyrie of the Golden Eagle; but
Professor Newton (Yarrell B. B, vol I. p. 27. 4th.
ed), suggests that the species which bred their was
probably the Sea Eagle. Dr. Moore also records a
bird of this species shot near Kingsbridge, in
October 1832, having previously frequented
Dartmoor; anda second killed near Bridestowe in
1834. Mr. D’Urban notices a fine example captured
alive near Holsworthy in North Devon, in January
1856, and exhibited in Exeter and other towns
(Zool. 1856. p. 5096). Mr. Cecil Smith writes that,
another Sea Hagle was shot on a wall at Dove, just
on the division of the counties of Devon and
Somerset, prior to the year 1875. A female
specimen was shot at Fordland’s Farm, Tiverton,
by Mr. R. 8. Norrish, on December 24th, 1887. I

76 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

have also examined a Sea Eagle presented to the
Exeter Museum by Mr. H. Michelmore; this
specimen is said to have been obtained in the
county.

SPARROW HAWK.—Accipiter nisus (Linn).

A RESIDENT species, fairly plentiful in well wooded
districts, but becoming scarce as the moorlands are
approached. As an instance of the audacity of this
species may be cited Gatcombe’s observation that
in September 1884, a Sparrow Hawk was caught in
the middle of Plymouth, having dashed at a caged
Goldfinch (Zool. 1885. p. 23). Varieties of the
Sparrow Hawk are rare; an albino example, shot
at Castle Hill, North Devon, June 28th, 1849, is
preserved in the Exeter Museum.

KITE—Milvus ictinus, Savigny.

A RARE visitant. The Rev. M. A. Mathew writes,
that he has proof of the Kite having nested quite
recently in Devonshire. but even at the beginning of
the century it was arare bird in the South of the
County ; Montagu only met with it once in twelve
years’ experience. In recording a specimen of the
Kite killed in Cornwall in 1870, the late Mr. Rodd
remarked: ‘‘ I have not heard of a specimen of this
beautiful bird occurring anywhere in the West of
England for the last fifty years, although I have a
vague recollection of the species having (in my
school-boy days, at Buckfastleigh near Ashburton,

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. fd)

in Devonshire) regularly bred in a large woodland
called King’s Wood, not far from Holne Chase on
Dartmoor” (Zool. 1870. p. 1980). In his annual
summary, Mr. Rodd wrote more decidedly: ‘‘No
hawk was better known in the large woodland
districts of the Central part of Devon, when I was
a boy at Buckfastleigh, than the ‘Fork-tailed Kit,’
as it was commonly called” (Birds of Cornwall, p.
255). Mr. Rodd appears to have been born in
1810, so that his experience of the Kite in Devon
would refer to years between 1820 and 1830. The
Ootheca Wolleyana mentions an egg of the Kite
from Devon, and in 1872 the Hon. Lord Lilford
informed Mr. Harting that the Kite formerly bred in
North Devon. Writing in 1838, Bellamy stated
that the Kite might be considered ‘“ almost confined
to Dartmoor ” (Nat. Hist. of Devon. p. 300). also,
that, ‘‘in former years the Kite was a common bird
in this country, but at the present time it is
particularly scarce” (Ibid. p. 805). We come next
to enumerate specimens of the Kite killed in Devon,
the properly authenticated instances are very few
indeed.

Writing from the Barnstaple district on May
5th 1861, the Rev. M. A. Mathew records the
capture, afew days earlier, of a fine adult Kite,
taken in a trap at Kentisbury (Zool. 1861. p. 7544).
On the 13th of October in the following year a
male specimen was shot on the banks of the Avon
near Kingsbridge (Zool. 1863. p, 8325), and another

78 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

male was shot near Kingsbridge in March, 1864 (Zool.
1864. p. 9039). The Rev. G. C. Green has drawn
my attention to a fine Kite in the collection of Mr.
Andrews, who writes; ‘‘ The Kite, which I have in
my possession, came into my hands about fifteen
years since, being before that in the collection of
the late Rev. C. Bulteel. The bird was known to
be in the neighbourhood a little time before it was
killed, about twenty five years ago, I should think,
but I am not certain at all as to this. It was
caught by a boy in a gin on the southern edge of
Dartmoor.” The Rev. C. Bulteel adds: ‘‘ I am sorry
to say Ican not tell you the exact date of the
capture of the Kite on Dartmoor, but I was quite a
boy at the time, and I should think it was at
least thirty years ago.” A few other specimens exist
in Devon; there is one for instance, in the collection
of the Earl of Morley, which was killed at Saltram.
Mr. A. L. Hine-Haycock tells me that his brother
saw a Kite at Sidmouth in 1887; Mr. R. M. J.
Trill observed a Kite in December, 1880, near
Newton Abbot (Fve/d, Dec. 1ith, 1880); Mr. Murray
Mathew possesses a very recent Devonshire specimen,
and one was seen near Chagford in May, 1890
(Field, May 24th, 1890).

HONEY BUZZARD.—Pernies amvorus (Linn).

A RARE visitant; very few occurrences of the Honey
Buzzard can be accredited to Devonshire. Birds
have, however, been killed in several different

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 79

localities, on Dartmoor, near Plymouth, at Slapton
Ley, in Woodley Woods and elsewhere. Writing
under date of June 2nd, 1866, the late Mr. Rodd
remarks : ‘‘ Mr. Vingoe received from North Devon
yesterday a fine specimen of the female Honey
Buzzard. There was a chain of eggs in the ovary,
but whether they would have been laid this year is
doubtful ” (Zool. 1866, p. 308). On dissectingafemale
Honey Buzzard, killed near Plymouth, in October
1881, Mr.Gatcombe found that “the stomach, strange
to say, contained nothing but a quantity of white
feathers, (apparently its own) in a similar state to
those which are often found compressed in the
stomach of a Grebe” (Zool. 1882. p. 65).

PEREGRINE FALCON.—Falco peregrinus, Tunstall.

A RESIDENT species, included by Polwhele in his
account of the Birds of Devon, as the ‘‘ Gyrfalcon,”
a curious misnomer. In 1869, Baron A. von Hiigel
recorded the Peregrine as nesting at Watcombe,
near Dartmouth, and at Start Point (Zool. 1869. p.
1846). Mr. Rawson finds it breeding at Baggy
Point, and it nests on Lundy Island, or has only
ceased to do sovery recently. The Rev. Prebendary
Bassett has seen the Falcon on Exmoor, and
believes that formerly it bred there. Mr. Gatcombe
examined a good many Peregrines killed near
Plymouth, and gives an interesting account of a
young bird: ‘Some years ago a shipwright’s lad
took three young ones from a nest at Wembury, one

80 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

of which I purchased and kept alive for a long time:
and afterwards, hearing that he had still another
left, I thought I would endeavour to get that also.

On my asking whether he kept it
confined in a cage or in a garden, he replied that it
was quite free, and flew about wherever it liked, but
would come to his call or whistle from any distance
within sight or hearmg. On landing and walking
into the village, my companion began to call and
whistle, when suddenly, to my astonishment, I saw
the Falcon swoop down from the corner of a high
building at the end of a street, and alight on his
shoulder. . . . . Ihave often since regretted
that I did not buy this docile bird” (Zool. 1877, p.
280). From the precipitous character of its favourite
haunts, I have heard this Falcon called the ‘ Cliff-
hawk” in Devon. Mr. H. Nicholls of Kingsbridge
informs me, that about twenty Peregrines have
passed through his hands during his experience,
extending over many years. Local specimens may
be seen in the Museums of Plymouth, Exeter,
Torquay ; others are preserved in private collections.

HOBBY.—Falco subbuteo, Linn.

AN OCCASIONAL summer visitant. Devonshire lies
to the west of the Hobby’s proper breeding range in
England, but the species is reported to have bred in
Lydford Woods, at Warleigh, and one or two other
localities. A pair of Hobbies undowbtedly nested in
Gidleigh Park near Chagford, in 1870; the facts

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 81

being fully investigated by the Rev. Murray A.
Mathew (Zool. 1870, p. 2304). In this instance, the
keeper unhappily destroyed both the old Hobbies
and their young. Specimens of the Hobby are killed
from time to time in Devon, notwithstanding the com-
parative rarity of the bird within the County. Three
killed near Exeter are in the local museum; the Earl
of Morley possesses a specimen killed at Plympton ;
a male Hobby preserved in the Torquay Museum,
was killed on Dartmoor; Mr. I. Pershouse informs
me that an immature male was killed at Yarner
Wood, Bovey Tracey, September Ist, 1874 : my own
collection includes a Hobby killed in South Devon.

MERLIN.—Falco esalon, Tunstall.

A SCARCE autumn and winter visitant, reputed to
have formerly bred on Dartmoor, but chiefly met
with during the colder months of the year, some-
times lingering into April. The Rev. M. A. Mathew
regards this species as still breeding in Devon, and
the dates at which Merlins have occurred with us
favour the belief, but I have no evidence, myself,
that the Merlin nests with us. Mr. D’Urban
mentions half-a-dozen local specimens, killed near
Exeter, at Sidmouth, and at Dawlish ; adding, ‘‘It is
said to have nested near Manaton, on the borders of
Dartmoor ” (Zool. 1881. p. 57). Others have been
killed near Torquay, at Plymouth, and also in the
North of the County: being variously trapped, shot,
or netted, although in no way injurious to game.
‘

82 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
RED-FOOTED FALCON.—falco vespertinus (Linn).
A RARE visitant. The late Rev. R. A. Julian, an
accomplished ornithologist, informed the Rev. F. O.
Morris that he knew of two specimens obtained
near Plymouth. One flew on board a vessel in the
Channel, near the Breakwater and was captured
(Morris B.B. I. p. 108). The other is the bird
alluded to by the late Mr. Rodd, in the following
words : ‘‘When visiting Devonport in June 1863, I
saw an adult male of this species in the hands of
Mr. Pincombe, naturalist of that town, which had
been shot some time previously at Wembury Cliff,
. on the Devonshire side of Plymouth Sound. .. .
This is the specimen referred to by Yarrell as having
been in a Museum at Devonport, and killed not far
off. It is now in my collection” (B. of C. p. 9).

KESTREL.—Ffalco tinnunculus, Linn.

A common resident, fairly distributed all over the
county, though Mr. Mitchell considers it less
abundant in North Devon than in the district of
Tavistock, in which he now resides. Writing from
Tavistock, Mr. Mitchell remarks; ‘ These birds
build in the numerous steep rocks around here.
They feed largely on Jeetles. When they nest in
rocks, they make no nest at all, but scoop a hollow
in the mould, among their pellets.”

OSPREY .—Pandion haliaétus (Linn).

A RARE visitant to the estuaries and rivers of S.
Devon; almost unknown in the North of the

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 83

County. Formerly it was more often noticed.
Thus, the late Mr. Ross wrote, in 1844: ‘‘ Ospreys
are frequently seen on the Exe, and have been taken
in large gins. One has been observed for the last
month, but has hitherto escaped capture” (Zool.
1844. p 1190). A few years later, Dr. Scott of
Exeter expressed a similar view, remarking that:
“This bird is not a very uncommon visitor, as
almost every winter one or two are shot in the
neighbourhood ” (Zool. 1849. p. 2384). It is
unnecessary for present purposes to enumerate all
our local occurrences of the Osprey in the present
century. In March, 1864, a fine female ‘‘ was shot
at Slapton Ley, where it had been seen fishing for
roach and perch for several days previous (Zool.
1864. p. 9039). Another was killed on the
Exe in October, 1865 (Zool. 1865. p 9847).
Another was killed near Powderham in 1867, and
another on the Dart in September 1875 (fide
K. Parfitt), A female, killed at Torbay, is
preserved in the Torquay Museum. The Earl
of Morley has informed me of an Osprey in
his collection, killed on the estuary of the Plym
prior to 1840. In the North of the County, Mr. G.
I’. Mathew describes an Osprey shot in Braunton
Marshes, September 1868, as ‘the first that has
been observed here” (Zool. 1868. p. 1460). It
should be noticed that most, if not all, of the

authenticated occurrences of the Osprey in Devon
refer to the seasons of migration.

84 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
OrpveER STEGANOPODES.

Family PELECANID A.
CORMORANT.—-Phalacrocoraz carbo (inn).

AN ABUNDANT species on our coasts. The Rev. M.
A. Mathew reports the Cormorant as breeding on
the coasts of both North and South Devon. Mr. F.
Pershouse kindly contributes information as to its
breeding near Torquay, and Mr. Rawson adds that
a few pairs also breed on Lundy Island. Mr. Mitchell
writes: ‘“‘I saw three nests close together in the
cliffs of Rame Head, near Plymouth, this Spring.
When I looked over the cliff, the birds were sitting;
they would not leave their nests, even when I threw
stones at them, but they kept ‘snapping’ towards
me with their beaks, and stretching out their necks.
A bird was shot on Dartmoor lately, at Tavy Cleave
twenty-three miles from the sea.”’

Baron A. von Hiigel measured a Conger eel of
thirty inches, taken entire from the gullet of a
Cormorant shot in Torbay. Gatcombe often
recorded the Cormorants, which he watched at
Plymouth, as catching Congers, sometimes under
circumstances of considerable difficulty, as when a
large eel had twisted itself so tightly around the
neck of its captor as to almost cause suffocation.
Once, when visiting the Tamar river, he was ‘much
interested in watching the struggles of a Cormorant
with a large fish on a mud-flat near the river, which
it must just have caught, or possibly found left dry

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 85

by the tide, but had the greatest difficulty in killing
and swallowing. ‘This was the first time I ever saw a
wild Cormorant kill and eat a fish out of the water”
(Zool. 1884. p. 53).

SHAG.—Phalacrocorax graculus (inn).

A coMMON resident, met with at all seasons on our
coasts. The Rev. M. A. Mathew writes that the
Shag breeds on the cliffs of both N. and S Devon,
Mr. Pershouse finds it very numerous at times in
Torbay, and Gatcombe observed large numbers in
the month of May about Wembury Cliffs, where they
presumably bred.

GANNET.—Sula bassana (Linn).

A RESIDENT species, a few pairs breeding on Lundy
Island, but for the most part a winter and spring
visitant in mature plumage, young birds being of
decidedly uncommon occurrence. Adults often make
their appearance in hundreds. Baron A von. Hiigel
writes, under date February 11th 1874: ‘¢ About a
fortnight ago, a flock of several hundred birds were
following a shoal of fish off Paignton, and the effect
produced by the contrast of the lovely white of
their plumage against the leaden sky and deep
green sea was very striking” (Zool. 1874. p. 3906).
Similarly, hundreds appeared in the channel off
Rame Head in January, 1876, and such were their
numbers, that one fisherman described them as
“falling like a snow shower” in their pursuit of

86 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

fish (Zool. 1876. p. 4823). Upon the North coast
of the County it is less frequently observed, but in
November 1881 several Gannets were reported as
seen flying off Hartland Point during the whole
month (Migration Report, 1881. p. 68), and their
presence in limited numbers is a common event.

Orper HERODIONES.
Family ARDEIDA.
HERON.—Ardea cinerea, Linn.

A weELL known resident, constantly to be seen on
our rivers and estuaries. Several fine Heronries
exist in the county. At Powderham Park, the seat
of the Earl of Devon, the Herons nest in some
ancient oak trees close to the castle. Formerly a
Heronry existed in Shute Park, near Axminster,
but some forty years ago the birds migrated to
fresh quarters among the woods of Stedcombe near
Axmouth. A few Herons breed at Sharpham on the
Dart. Mr. Mitchell knows the MHeronry at
Warleigh, and another at Fremington, near
Barnstaple. The Rev. G. C. Green reports another
as existing in Little Orcheton Wood, at the mouth
of the Erme; Dr. Elliot sends me word of a
Heronry in Halwell Wood on the Kingsbridge
estuary; Mr. Parfitt records another on Dartmoor |
near Princetown. The Rey. Prebendary Bassett

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 87

reports a ninth Heronry at Pixton Park near
Dulverton. On the Exe, I often meet with Herons;
on a fine moonlight night, I have counted as many
as a dozen birds scattered along the edge of the
river, waiting patiently for their prey.

PURPLE HERON.—Ardea purpurea, Linn.

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore in 1837 included this
species in the Devonshire list on very imperfect
evidence, stating only that an immature bird was
seen by Mr. Gosling on the Plym, in April 1824,
and that a second was noticed by several persons
at Flete, 11 December 1836. Nor does the Editor
know anything of the bird which Mr. H. Saunders
states (Yarrell B.B. vol. IV. p. 173), no doubt
correctly, to have been obtained near Plymouth by
Mr. Plumptre Methuen ; but Gatcombe unquestion-
ably obtained an immature Purple Heron at a
poulterer’s in Stonehouse, October 380th, 1857 (Zool.
1859. p. 6376),

LITTLE EGRET.—Ardea garzetta, Linn.

A RARE visitant, having only been observed in our
county in a solitary instance. Mr. Gatcombe
records that a beautiful specimen was killed at
Countess Weir, on the Exe, upon the 38rd of June
1870. It was in perfectly adult plumage, and
became the property of Mr. KE. H. Harbottle of
Topsham (Zool, 1870. p. 2308). This bird is now
deposited on loan in the Exeter Museum.

88 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

BUFF-BACKED HERON.—Ardea bubulcus, Audouin.

A RARE visitant. Montagu added this little Heron
to the British list, having obtained a female bird,
shot by Mr. F. Cornish at South Allington near Kings-
bridge in October 1805, and recorded its history in
the Transactions of the Linnean Society (Vol. IX.
p. 197), as also in the Supplement to his
Ornithological Dictionary The bird ‘had been
seen for several days in the same field, attending
some cows, and picking up insects, which were found
in its stomach. It was by no means shy, and was
fired at a second time before it was secured. The
situation where it was shot is the southern
promontory of Devon, very near the coast, between
the Start and the Prawl.” This immature
specimen is preserved in the Natural History
Museum at South Kensington. It is possible that
a record of a bird shot in South Devon, April, 1851,
and described by Mr. Cleveland as ‘“ Ardea russata,”’
may refer to this species (Zool. 1851. p. 3116).

SQUACCO HERON.—<Ardea ralloides, Scop.

A RARE visitant. Mr. Rowe writes: ‘‘ Rare. One
was killed near Kingsbridge in 1840, and one or
two have since been obtained from the Tamar ”’
(Catalogue of Birds, p. 37). There is no doubt at
all that a Squacco Heron was killed at Blatchford
in June or July, 1840. Dr. Elliot says that a man
called ‘‘ Otter Dairs”’ shot it, and certainly inform-
ation was sent to Mr. Yarrell. ‘The specimen

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 89

belonged to Lord Blatchford, and was supposed to
have passed into his collection. Gatcombe
examined the collection in 1875, and pronounced
that this bird was in fine condition, and that the
stuffer’s name was on the back of the case. But the
death of the late Mr. Bond has brought to light a
second specimen, described in his private catalogue
as obtained in 1840 in Devonshire, and Mr. Bidwell
reports that the bird entered Mr. Bond’s possession
in that year. Whether two Squacco Herons were
killed in Devon at the same time, or whether one of
the birds was mounted from a skin to counterfeit
the other, I can not say. Myr. Bond’s specimen
-was sold at Stevens’s, May 22nd 1890, as of
lot 382, and was purchased for £2 10s by Mr. Chase
of Birmingham. Mr. H. Saunders records a third
specimen, killed in Devon, in June, 1878.

LITTLE BITTERN.—-Ardetta minuta (Linn).

AN OCCASIONAL but rare summer visitant, chiefly
noticed in South Devon. Various specimens have
been obtained at Slapton Ley and elsewhere, prior
to 1852. On the 28rd of April, in that year, an
adult male Little Bittern was captured at Prawl,
and carried, quite uninjured to Mr. Nicholls, who
remarks: “ It seldom stretched out its neck, except
in the act of striking, which it did with much force,
drawing blood from the hand of a boy who ventured
too near it ’’ (Zool. 1852. p. 3474). In May, 1878,
a fine male was shot on the river Erme, and came

90 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

under the notice of Mr. Gateombe (Zool. 1873. p.
3630). The Rev. M.A. Mathew records an adult
caught in a starved condition in April, 1876, near
Plymouth (Zool. 1876. p. 5046); he also records a
specimen of the Little Bittern, killed at Braunton,
near Barnstaple, in the first week of May, 1868.
Dr. Elliot has a beautiful male, shot June 2nd, 1885,
near Kingsbridge, as also a female previously
obtained. Other local specimens might be
enumerated, but the foregoing evidence will suffice
to explain the visits of the Little Bittern. The
season at which the majority of birds have been
killed, renders it probable, that had they been
spared, some of them might probably have bred in
the county.

NIGHT HERON.—WNycticoraz griseus (Linn).

A RARE summer visitant, that might have become a
permanent breeding species in the county, had
adequate protection been forthcoming. The year
1849 is memorable with us in Devon, for the arrival
of a flight of no less than eight adult Night Herons
in the neighbourhood of Flete, on the river Erme.
Forty years ago, there was of course no protection
for breeding birds, and the whole flight of birds,
four males and four females, were killed out,
between their arrival on the 23rd of May and the
22nd of June. The Rev. C. Bulteel reports
that all the birds were preserved ; two are in the
collection of Mr. Andrews, and another is in

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 91
the possession of Lord Lilford. Mr. G,. F. Mathew

records an adult male shot on the river Taw, May
14th, 1869; Mr. Howard Saunders says that from
information supplied to him by the Rev. M. A.
Mathew, it seems probable that a brood was actually
hatched out that year near New Bridge on the Taw.
Mr. H. Nicholls records a young bird, in the spotted
plumage; flushed from a bed of reeds in the vicinity
of the Avon, January 7th, 1876, adding : ‘‘ Some
twelve years since, in October, I procured a similar
specimen, except that some of the down was quite
visible at the tips of the feathers, from the same
locality, and a full dressed male a few years ago ”’
(Zool. 1876. p. 4844).

BITTERN.—Botaurus stellaris (Linn).

A WINTER visitant, met with annually at Slapton
Ley, and of pretty frequent occurrence in the South
of the County. In the North of Devon, it is
rather more rarely met with. Writing to the Zoologist
of 1856, Mr. D’ Urban states: ‘‘ The Bittern, unlike
many other species once common in Devonshire has
become of late years froma rare bird a regular
winter visitor to this county :”’ After enumerating
ten recent occurrences (one of the number referring
toa Bittern shot by himself on the Exe), Mr.
D’Urban proceeds ; ‘‘ They appear to be met with
either during or after the prevalence of high
easterly winds and cold weather, and are
usually not at all shy, allowing of close approach

92 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

before taking wing. The specimen killed on the
22nd of December rose within a few yards of me,
from the rushes on the‘ leck-beds,’ when I was
looking for Snipe, and had probably only arrived the
preceding night, as its stomach was empty ” (Zool.
1856. p. 5064). ‘The stomachs of the Bitterns that
Gatcombe dissected, killed near Plymouth, contained
the fur of water rats and mice, vegetable fibre, the
elytra of beetles and many small crabs (Zool. 1879.
p. 205). There are several local examples in the
Exeter Museum; the Earl of Morley has a bird
killed at Saltram ; my collection includes one killed
near Plymouth. Many others are in private hands.
Even during the mild winter of 1889-90, several
Bitterns were killed in the County, e.g. a fine bird
killed at Bradford on December 14th, and a second
shot at Holsworthy three days later.

AMERICAN BITTERN.—Botaurus lentiginosus (Mont).

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore records the occurrence
of this North American bird in South Devon, on
the strength of a specimen shot at Mothecombe near
Plymouth, December 22nd, 1829. A second
example was procured in 1875, in North Devon.
“Towards the end of October,’ writes the Rev. M.
A. Mathew, ‘‘ A fine example of the American
Bittern was killed by Mr. Richards, while shooting
on some high moor ground near Parracombe ; | have
seen this bird, which I believe is to be presented to
Earl Fortescue, as it was shot upon his lordship’s

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 93

eround: it is a young bird of the year ” (Zool. 1875.
p. 4720). Mr. Gatcombe simultaneously recorded
this bird, remarking: ‘‘ Since my return from North
Devon, I have heard from my friend the Rev. W.
S. Hore, of Barnstaple, that Mr. Rowe had received
an American Bittern, in the flesh, I believe killed
in the neighbourhood of Ilfracombe ” (ibid. p. 4719).

Family CICONIIDA.

WHITE STORK.—Ciconia alba, Bechst.

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore writes in 1837 : ‘‘ Three
specimens have within the last fifteen years, been
obtained on Slapton Ley, according to Mr. Gosling”
(Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 321). Mr. Rowe states:
‘Dr. Moore mentions three specimens killed on
Slapton Ley. The last Devonshire one is mentioned
by my cousin in Morris, B.B. vol. IV. p. 151. as
having been shot at Topsham on the Exe, July 28th,
1852 ” (Birds of Devon, p. 37).

BLACK STORK.—Ciconia nigra (Linn).

)

A RARE visitant. ‘A beautiful specimen” writes
Dr. Moore, ‘‘was shot on the Tamar, November
5th, 18381, and is now in Mr. Drew’s collection ; I
saw the bird while warm and took note of it” (Mag.
Nat. Hist. 1837 p. 521). This example subsequently
became the property of the late Mr. Rodd (Birds of

Cornwall, p. 126).

94 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Family PLATALEIDZ.
SPOON BILL.—Platalea leucorodia, Linn.

A RARE visitant on migration. Montagu mentions
that he obtained a young bird, shot near Kings-
bridge in November, 1804, as also an old bird, ‘in
the highest state of beauty,’ in March, 1807.
Dr. Moore adds : ‘‘ Mr. Comyns has one, shot on
the Exe ;” another, shot on Kenton Warren, in
December, 1829, by Mr. W. Tucker: another, shot
on the Tamar, is in the collection of C. Tripe, Esq.,
of Devonport (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 321). Dr,
Scott records a Spoonbill shot on the Warren Sands
at Exmouth in December, 1847, and Dr. Elliot
reports two others obtained in the Kingsbridge
district. Gatcombe on several occasions examined
immature Spoonbills, which had been killed in
Cornwall, on the borders of Devon; but the visits
of this species have become more rare than formerly.
A Spoonbill killed at Teignmouth, was sold as lot
87, at Mr. Cecil Smith’s sale at Steven’s, London,
on June 24th, 1890.

GLOSSY IBIS.—Plegadis falcinellus (inn).

A RARE visitant. Montagu obtained three specimens
in the County, one of them being shot “in the
interior part of Devonshire,” in September, 1805
(Linn, Soc. Tr. LX. p. 198). Dr. Moore mentions
three others, one shot near Warleigh on the Tamar
and two killed at Slapton Ley (Mag. Nat. Hist.
1837 p. 321). A seventh was shot at Holsworthy

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 95

in September, 1851 ( Western Times, October 11th,
1851). In 1869, an eighth specimen’ was
killed on the river Dart, not far from Totnes, on
the 20th of September. This bird, which was not
fully mature in plumage, was taken in the flesh to
Mr. Shopland of Torquay, and purchased by Baron
A von Hiigel (Zool, 1869. p. 1917). Afterwards it
passed into the possession of Mr. J. H. Gurney.

OrvER ANSERES.
Family ANATIDZ.
GREY LAG GOOSH.—Anser cinereus, Meyer.

A RARE winter visitant. Our only reliable evidence,
for the occurrence of the Grey Lag in Devon, is
supplied by Mr. Gatcombe, who purchased a female
in the Devonport Market, November 25th, 1858,
which is now in the Exeter Museum. It had been
killed on the river Tamar. ‘ This species is very
uncommon with us,” the above mentioned specimen
and another, “ being the only two I ever observed
in our markets, although I have been for many
years on the look out for them” (Zool. 1859. p.
6376). Mr. KE. G. Waddilove writes under date 9th
Jaly, 1890: ‘I once in the winter 1884-5 saw
four grey geese which, from their size, I feel pretty
sure were Grey Lags, flying at no very great height
out seawards, over the sand-bank at the mouth of
the estuary (Exe) known as the ‘Warren.’ ”’

96 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
BEAN GOOSE.—Anser segetum (Gmel).

A WINTER visitant, numerous in some seasons of
protracted frost, at other times scarce or absent from
our estuaries. Specimens have been killed in recent
years at Slapton Ley, from which locality Montagu
received a couple of live Bean Geese through Mr.
Holdsworth.

WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE.—Anser albifrons (Scop).
A WINTER visitant, and the Grey Goose generally
met with in Devonshire in ordinary seasons.
Several were shot near Exeter in 1846 (Zool. 1849.
p. 2384). A bird in the Exeter Museum was shot
on the Exe in 1850. Mr. Rawson examined three
fine birds, shot of a party of five on Northam
Burrows. ‘The finest in plumage, that Gatcombe
ever saw, was killed on a down near Colstock in
1877. The bands on the breast and belly were so
broad and close together, as to make the underparts
appear almost wholly black. This bird had been
feeding on Dutch clover, of which its stomach was
full. It sometimes visits Dartmoor, for Mr. Clark
shot a White-fronted Goose in Fox-Tor mire in
February 1885; two others were seen at the same
time. Several White-fronted Geese were seen near
Barnstaple in January, 1888, and one was shot on
the Exe estuary in November of the same year.

BRENT GOOSE.—Bernicla brenta (Pall).

A WINTER visitant, sometimes numerous on the Exe
and other estuaries in hard weather. The Rev.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 97

M. A. Mathew records that in 1861, he shot one
and saw six others as late as April 22nd, on the
Taw estuary. In 1883, Gatcombe examined a
couple of Brent Geese, sent to a Plymouth bird-
stuffer as late as May 12th (Zool. 1883. p. 419).
We do not, however, get the large flocks of Brent
Geese commonly met with in winter and early
spring on the east coast. A Brent Goose, shot on
the Topsham mud flats in 1850, may be seen in the
Exeter Museum.

BARNACLE GOOSE.—Bernicla leucopsis (Bechst).

AN UNCOMMON winter visitant. Montagusays: ‘‘ A
large flock of these birds were observed on Slapton
Ley in the winter of 1801,” and his own collection
contained two local birds. Another couple were
killed at Slapton Ley in 1860. Mr. Rowe includes
this species in his catalogue as “rare,’’ and has
added a MS. note that he obtained a specimen for
his series in 1864 (Catalogue of Birds of Devon. p.
39). Dr. Moore also met with it.

RED-BREASTED GOOSE.— Bernicla rujficollis (Pall).

A very rare visitant. Dr. Moore states that : ‘One
was shot on Kenton Warren, in 1828, and is now in
the possession of Mr. W. Russell, Dawlish; another
was killed on Teign Marshes, February 21st, 1837,
by Rendall, of Buckland, and is now in preparation
by Mr. Drew’? (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837). The

Red-breasted Goose was at that time so rare in
G

98 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

collections, that imposition is unlikely, and Dr.
Moore was too good a naturalist to misidentify so
remarkable a species. It is, however, to be desired
that information of the present whereabouts of these
valuable specimens should be forthcoming.

MUTE SWAN.—Cygnus olor (Gmel).

AN INTRODUCED species. That we are also visited
in winter by some genuine wild birds, is not
unlikely ; but it appears to be difficult to distinguish
between visitors ‘Ferae naturae, and full-winged
stragglers from private waters.

WHOOPER SWAN.—Cygnus musicus, Bechst.

A RARE VISITANT in severe weather. ‘ Wild Swans”
says Polwhele, ‘‘ in flocks of sixty or seventy
appear in hard winters..... During the frost,
about sixteen years ago (7.e. about 1780), a Cygnet
was shot from Totnes bridge, but the flesh was by
no means a dainty. In the hard frost of 1788, a
Swan was shot above Staverton, the weight of
which was eighteen pounds and a half. In 1788-9
the river Exe, and the marshes of Exminster, and
the banks of the Clyst were covered with Swans ”
(History of Devonshire, p. 111). Dr. Moore writes
in 1837, that the Whooper is “‘rare but obtained in
hard winters. A specimen, shot on the Tamar, is
in the collection of J. Newton, Esq., at Bridestow,
near Okehampton. In the winter of 1830, several

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 99

visited our rivers. I saw thirteen in the Plymouth
and Devonport markets, and many were shot in the
North, of which I obtained one from Torrington ”
(Nat. Hist. Mag. 1837. p. 366).

BEWICK’S SWAN.—Cygnus bewicki, Yarr.

A RARE winter visitant. The only recent occurrence
of Bewick’s Swan in Devon at present known, is
that recorded in the Zoologist for 1876 by Mr. H.
Nicholls, who states that on the 14th of November
in that year a pair of these Swans appeared upon
the Kingsbridge estuary. One of them was shot,
and being purchased by Mr. Nicholls, proved to be
afemale. It weighed eleven.pounds and a half.

SHELD DUCK.—Tadorna cornuta (8.G. Gmel).

A WINTER visitant to our southern estuaries. Dr.
Moore records it as breeding on Braunton Burrows
in 1837, and Mr. Rawson believes that it still holds
out as a resident species. In the neighbourhood of
Plymouth, Gatcombe considered it a ‘ hard
weather” fowl. Those, which he dissected during
the winter months, proved to have fed chiefly on
minute shells. Mr. Waddilove says the Sheld Duck
used formerly to breed on Dawlish Warren, but it
has not, to my knowledge, done so within the last
three or four years.

MALLARD.—Anas boscas, Linn.

A RESIDENT and breeding species, but the numbers
of our home-bred birds are reinforced in early

100 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

winter by many immigrants. A specimen of the
rare hybrid between the Mallard and Teal was
obtained in Devonshire by the Rev. W. 8. Hore,
and is now in the possession of Mr. J. H. Gurney,
from whom this information is derived. Mr. Gurney
writes that it is in good plumage, and shows the
characteristics of both species. A coloured figure
of this hybrid accompanies Severtzow’s Pamphlet,
‘¢ Hin bastard von anas crecca mit A. boschas.”’

GADWALL.—Anas streperus, Linn.

A RARE winter visitant. During severe weather in
the early Spring of 1855, Gatcombe found some fine
specimens of the Gadwall exposed for sale in the
local markets, The Rev. G. C. Green has a large
specimen killed on the Erme. A male, shot at
Powderham, in December, 1871, is preserved in the
Exeter Museum. A female bird was killed at
Slapton Ley, in January, 1885. These references
all refer to South Devon. The Gadwall does not
seem to have been reported from the north of the
County.
SHOVELLER.—Spatula clypeata (Linn).

A. scARCE visitant, chiefly noticed during the winter
months. Montagu obtained a male Shoveller in
‘‘eclipse’’ plumage, shot “ on a fresh water lake”
(?Slapton Ley), on August 5th 1807; the natural
presumption is, that this bird had dred that season,
since ‘‘eclipse”’ plumage usually succeeds to marital
conditions. The Rev. G. C. Green examined a

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 101

young Shoveller, shot on Strode pond in 1880, and
the Rev. M. A. Mathew records a young bird killed
on the Taw, as also a pair of adults shot on the
same river about March 20th, 1870. Gatcombe
examined a fine old male killed near Plymouth in
December 1873, and eight others obtained in the
following February, only three out of the nine being
female birds. Another male was shot at Brampford
Speke, December 13th 1875, and another was killed
on a stream near Kingsbridge by the gardener of
Mr. Mitchell, in December, 1879.

PINTAIL.—Dajila acuta (Linn),

A WINTER visitant in sparing numbers to our
estuaries. Polwhele was well acquainted with the
‘“ Long-tailed Wigeon or Sea-pheasant”’ as a visitor
to the south coast of Devon in severe weather.
Mr. Waddilove, who has had considerable experience
of wildfowling, is inclined to think that the
Devonshire coast lies to the westward of the Pintail’s
usual haunts, and regards this species as decidedly
rarer at Exmouth than at Poole on the Dorset Coast.
Mr. Nicholls of Kingsbridge has recorded specimens
in immature or female plumage from his neighbour-
hood. My collection includes a female shot on the
Estuary of the Exe in March, 1888.

TEAL.—Querquedula crecca (Linn).
A NUMEROUS winter visitant, but resident at Slapton
Ley, where it breeds sparingly. In October, 1875,

102 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Gatcombe examined a drake Teal, killed near
Ilfracombe, which possessed a white ring upon the
neck similar to that of the Mallard. The late Mr.
Bond’s collection contained a male Wigeon,
exhibiting very perfectly a white ring of the same
kind.

GREEN-WINGED TEAL.—Querquedula carolinensis.

A RARE visitant. A male specimen of this American
Teal was shot by a local gunner on an arm of the
Kingsbridge Estuary, November 23rd, 1879. The
man who killed it, sold it to Mr. R. P. Nicholls, and
after comparison with American skins, its identity
was announced by Mr. H. Nicholls (Zool. 1880,
p- 70). It has since been exhibited before the
Zoological Society by Mr. H. Saunders.

GARGANEY.—Querquedula circia (Linn).

A SPRING visitant to N. and 8. Devon, but only in
very small numbers. A male and female, preserved
in the Exeter Museum, were shot in Newport Marsh,
Topsham, March 12th, 1850. Gatcombe records
the occurrence of a Garganey near Plymouth,
March 25th, 1870, and of a fine male killed close to
the town of Plymouth, April 18th, 1872, accomp-
anying the second notice with the remark; ‘‘ This
species is seldom met with in our neighbourhood ”
(Zool. 1872. p. 3099). In 1881, he recorded a
third, killed near Plymouth on March 24th. The
Rev. M. A. Mathew records a duck and drake

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 103

killed on the Taw close to Barnstaple bridge, about
March 20th, 1870; and a third in the following
April. The Rev. G. C. Green writes; ‘‘ About the
end of March or beginning of April two Garganeys
(a duck and a drake), were shot out of a flock of
nine on Strode pond, and brought to me for
identification.”

WIGEON.—WMareca penelope (Linn).

A COMMON winter visitant, sometimes present in large
numbers at Slapton Ley. Bellamy records a local
specimen of the rare hybrid between this bird and
the Mallard.

AMERICAN WIGEON.—WMareca americana (Gmel).

A very rare visitant. The Rev. M. A. Mathew
wrote to the Zoologist in 1870: ‘‘I hear from
Barnstaple of the occurrence of the American Wigeon
on the Taw. A specimen of this species, supposed
to be a young male, was shot about the 20th of
April” (Zool. 1870, p. 2182). He kindly writes that
this bird, ‘‘ at the time was pronounced to be that
species [American Wigeon | by Professor Newton,
Mr. Harting, and the Rev. W. S. Hore. I still
believe it to be Mareca Americana. It was certainly
shot at large on the river Taw, and was seen by
my old friend;*the Rev. W.S. Hore before it was
skinned. It is in a very queer state of plumage,
but is very different to an ordinary Wigeon. It
is still in my collection” (en “it., April 18th, 1890).

104 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
RED-CRESTED POCHARD.—Ffuligula rufina (Pall).

A RARE visitant. ‘ A very beautiful Mallard
Specimen” is recorded by Mr. G. F. Mathew as
shot near Braunton, December 20th, 1867 (Zool.
1868. p. 1098).

POCHARD.—Fuligula ferina (Linn).

A WINTER visitant, of pretty frequent occurrence in
the southern estuaries. Baron <A. von Hiigel
records an adult male killed in Torbay in December,
the Earl of Morley informs me of a specimen in his
possession from the river Plym, I have another
from 8. Devon, and the bird is represented in most
local series of wild-fowl.

WHITE-EYED DUCK.—Fuligula nyroca (Gild).

A RARE visitant. Mr. H. Nicholls informs me that
he has a specimen of the Ferruginous Duck, shot at
Slapton Ley, November 25th, 1874. It is perhaps
to this bird that Mr. H. Saunders refers, when he
says; ‘‘Mr. Gatcombe is aware of but one instance
of the occurrence of a young bird of this species in
Devonshire” (Yarrell. B.B. Vol. 4. p. 419).

TUFTED DUCK.—Fuligula cristata (Leach).
A WINTER visitant. Montagu states that the Tufted
Duck, ‘‘ Pied” or ‘‘ Black Wigeon,” was frequently
shot on Slapton Ley in his day (Suppl. 18138).
Dr. Moore adds in 1837: “ Frequently shot on
Slapton Ley, and found in the markets in winter.”

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 105

At the present time Slapton Ley is still the chief
stronghold of this species during its stay with us.
The late Mr. Gurney observed a single Tufted Duck
diving in the sea off Torcross as late as the 22nd_ of
May, 1871; remarking: ‘It seems just possible
that these ducks may nest in the adjacent reed
beds.’ Confirmatory evidence is at present wanting,
but the Rev. M. A. Mathew has reason to believe
that the Tufted Duck has nested in Devon. Gatcombe
met with Tufted Ducks in the Plymouth Markets
in November, 1879, and at other times.

SCAUP.—-Fuligula marila (Linn).

AN AUTUMN and winter visitant to our estuaries,
rather plentiful in certain seasons, as in October,
1883, when a good many were killed near Plymouth.
The stomach of a drake, which Gatcombe dissected
was distended with small spiral shells, mixed with
the claws and other remains of minute crabs (Zool.
1884. p. 55).

GOLDENEYE.—Clangula glaucion (Linn.)

A WINTER visitant, numerous in the time of Montagu
at Slapton Ley, whence he received specimens
through Mr. Holdsworth, and called the ‘“ Pied
Wigeon.” Elsewhere it cannot be termed abundant,
being in fact only sparsely represented with us in
most seasons, Mr, Nicholls answers for several
Goldeneyes having been killed near Kingsbridge ;

106 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

others have been shot on the Exe, the Plym, and
in Torbay. Lieutenant Portman shot a fine drake
at Slapton Ley in February, 1886.

LONG-TAILED DUCK.—Harelda glacialis (Linn).

A WINTER visitant to our southern estuaries, but not
met with every year, even in the most favoured
localities. Mr. D’Urban records that the Exeter
Museum possesses a series of two adult and three
immature birds, all killed on the Exe between 1847
and 1877 (Zool. 1877. p. 105). Of these, one is
an adult male in summer plumage, killed in
1847. In Torbay, Baron A. von Hiigel
states that the Long-tailed duck is ‘‘ of very rare
occurrence.” He examined a young male killed
there in December, 1867. On the Kingsbridge
estuary, Mr. H. Nicholls shot a pair of birds in
October, 1865, ‘‘ the male having the very long tail
feathers and all the appearance of a full dressed
bird.” At Exmouth, again, Mr. Cecil Smith
obtained an immature bird in November, 1867, and
Mr. Waddilove writes, that he believes the sea-faring
habits of this duck cause its numbers on the Devon-
shire coast to be underestimated. An immature
bird was shot on the Exe during the present winter,
and came into my possession. In the north of the
county, the Long-tailed Duck is rarely met with.
The Rev. M. A. Mathew records an immature bird,
shot near Barnstaple, November 1858.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 107
EIDER DUCK.—Somateria mollissima (Linn).

AN OCCASIONAL winter visitant. Montagu obtained
an Eider Duck on the Devonshire coast in 1807.
Dr. Moore vouches for another obtained near
Plymouth in 1830. Mr. Brooking Rowe writes in
1863 ; ‘‘ Scarce, but specimens have been obtained
from time to time.” Baron A. von Htgel records
a female shot in Torbay in the winter of 1866,
remarking that the Eider is “a very rare visitant to
our coast ”’ (Zool. 1874. p. 3908).

KING EIDER.—Somateria spectabilis (Linn).

A very rare visitant. ‘‘ I learn from Mr. Gatcombe,”’
wrote Mr. J. H. Gurney in 1876, ‘that a King
Duck was killed at Plymouth some years ago, and
seen in the flesh by him at a birdstuffer’s named
Mutton ” (Zool. 1876, p. 4803). ‘‘ Mr. Gatcombe,”’
adds Mr. H. Saunders, “states that some years ago
he saw an immature bird in Plymouth Market ”
(Yarrell iv. p. 464). The Editor believes that
Mr. Gatcombe enjoyed the distinction of being the
only ornithologist who has had the good fortune to
detect the presence of the King Eider in Leadenhall
Market. There can be no doubt at all, that he knew
the species intimately.

COMMON SCOTER.—Cdemia nigra (Linn.)

A coMMON winter visitant on our south coast,
generally numerous at sea and in our estuaries,

108 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

from the end of October until the middle or end of
April. Gatcombe noticed that Scoters usually
appeared in Plymouth Sound when the wind was
easterly.

VELVET SCOTER.—Cidemia fusca (Linn.)

A RARE winter visitant, occasionally visiting the
north and south coasts of the county. Mr. Cecil
Smith records a Velvet Scoter shot in Bideford Bay
in 1882 (Zool. 1885 p. 4). Mr. H. Nicholls obtained
a female bird on the Kingsbridge estuary. A fine
adult male and two females were shot in Torbay in
November, 1869 (Zool. 1870, p. 1983). In 1879,
another was shot in Plymouth Sound (Zool. 1879
p- 206). Mr. Taylor records a seventh specimen,
shot in the Estuary of the Exe (Zool. 1888, p. 426).

SURF SCOTER.—Cidemia perspicillata (Linn.)

A RARE visitant. Mr. F. Pershouse has written to
tell me of an immature Surf Scoter, shot in Torbay
in 1860. In answer to further enquiry, Mr.
Pershouse kindly replies, ‘‘ The immature specimen
of the Surf Scoter was in the collection of the late
Mr. J. C, Hele of Newton Abbot. Mr. Hele
purchased it from Mr. Burt, then Curator of the
Museum (Mr. Burt has been dead several years).
At Mr. Hele’s death his collection of Birds was sold
by public auction. I quite intended to secure the
specimen but, thinking there would be no one at

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 109

the sale who would know anything about it, I put
too low a price and unfortunately missed it. I
believe it was taken either to Bristol or London.
I did all I could to find out its destination, but
failed to do so. I am quite sure the bird in
question is an immature Surf Scoter (Oedemia
perspicillata). Mr. Burt told me he had not sent
any notice of its capture to any paper. It is the
only specimen I have heard of in Devonshire” (in
lit. May 30th, 1890). ‘The remainder of the letter
refers to specimens of the Surf Scoter shot at
Stromness by Mr. Pershouse’s friends, the Rev. A.

Walker and Mr. T. M. Pike.

GOOSANDER.—Mergus merganser (Linn.)

A WINTER visitant, chiefly in immature or female
plumage. Baron A. von Hugel records a female
shot in Torbay, in January, 1870; Mr. R. P.
Nicholls vouches for a female shot out of a flock of
seven on the Avon, and also for two immature
birds killed at Slapton Ley, in December, 1875.
Mr. D’ Urban recorded an adult drake, shot on the
Exe near Countess Weir, January, 1880, with the
comment, that the Goosander is ‘‘an extremely rare
bird in the Western Counties in adult plumage,”
adding that though immature birds occurred at
long intervals, he had not seen an adult male killed
in the neighbourhood since 1840. Immature
Goosanders occasionally came under Gatcombe’s
notice at Plymouth.

110 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
RED-BREASTED MERGANSER.—Mergus serrator (Linn.)

A WINTER visitant to our coast and estuaries. The
late Mr. Bulteel once fired at a party of eight
Mergansers at the mouth of the river Erme, but his
duck gun burst in the firmg. Baron A. von Higel
met with this species in some numbers in Torbay, in
December, 1869. Gatcombe writes: ‘‘ The young
are frequently met with during severe weather, and
even in comparatively mild seasons,” but he never
saw a bird killed in Devon or Cornwall in adult male
dress until 1879, when he examined a bird killed off
Looe. In February, 1881, a pair were killed near
Plymouth, ‘‘ the male in full adult plumage, very un-
commonly met with in the West of England ” (Zool,
1881, p. 198). T'wo Mergansers, one an adult female
and the other an immature bird, were shot at
Exmouth, in October, 1888, and are now in my
collection.

SMEW.—WMergus albellus, Linn.

A RARE winter visitant. Montagu was well
acquainted with the Smew and even considered it
more numerous in Devon than the Goosander or
Merganser. Subsequent experience shows this
opinion to be inapplicable to the present day, what-
ever may have been the case at the beginning of
the century. Dr, Moore writes in 1837: ‘ Mr.
Comyns has a male and female shot at Exmouth.
Mr. Drew, Bolitho and myself have others, killed on
the Tamar.” The late Mr. Bulteel once shot an old

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 111

drake Smew at Flete. Mr. H. Nicholls has a
female shot on Kingsbridge estuary, December 30th
1875 (Zool. 1876. p. 4803); a pair were killed on
the Dart in 1871; two immature birds were shot
near Plymouth, December, 1879 ; another was
killed there in January 1881, and an adult drake
was observed in Plymouth Sound, March 11th, 1882,
(Zool. 1882. p. 457).

OrpER COLUMB.
Family CoLUMBIDA.
RING DOVE.—Columba palumbus, Linn.

A common resident in the wooded districts of the
County. Itisa prolific breeder, and Mr. Mitchell
has found unhatched eggs as late as the middle of
September. The large flocks of immigrants which
appear in some seasons, feed largely on acorns.
Mr. Mitchell has taken forty-two acorns out of the
crop of a single bird.

STOCK DOVE.—Columba e@nas, Linn.

A RESIDENT but local bird in Devon. Dr. Moore
wrote in 1837 that: ‘The Stock Dove is often seen
in large flocks in winter” (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837 p.
228). Bellamy, two years later, included the species
as occurring ‘‘in large flocks in winter,” evidently
repeating Dr. Moore’s words (Nat. Hist. Devon
p. 208). The experience of these two naturalists

112 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

referred especially to the neighbourhood of
Plymouth, and there Gatcombe, even in his later
years considered the bird rare. The Rev. M. A.
Mathew kindly writes that he has hitherto failed to
obtain conclusive proof of the Stock Dove nesting in
Devon. That it does breed in the north of the
County is nevertheless attested by Messrs. Rawson,
Young, and Aplin, each of whom has independently
assured. the Editor that he has seen Stock Doves
nesting in the sea cliffs. Mr. Rawson, who has been
pressed upon this point, is certain that Stock Doves
nest along the coast between Lynmouth and Baggy
Point. Mr. Mitchell of Tavistock, whose observa-
tions are those of a purely field naturalist, and one
who has spent his life in the county, writes that
Stock Doves nest in some steep rocks near Tavistock.
He has also seen them frequenting the sea cliffs.
Here, at Broadclyst, this bird nests under my
personal observation every year, generally in the
old oaks in the park, but I once found a nest in the
thick ivy which covers one side of the house. I am
quite unable to confirm Dr. Moore’s statement that
“large flocks” occur in winter. On the contrary, I
believe the Stock Dove to be at present a scarce bird
at all seasons; though, as already stated, it is fully
established as a breeding species.

ROCK DOVE.—Columba livia, Bonnat.

A very searce resident. ‘‘ The Rock Dove,” writes
Dr. Moore, ‘‘occurs in flocks, Sometimes in winter

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 113

associating with the tame pigeons. In the breeding
season they are mostly found on the north coast,
which is more mountainous and secluded than the
south ; and the sea cliffs where they breed are more
precipitous and afford greater facility for nesting:
but Lundy Island is the chief resort of this bird at
that period (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 228). Bellamy
states independently, “On the southern coast of
Devon, and I am informed, on the coasts of
Cornwall it also builds. I saw one in June, 1839,
on the rocks in a small cove at Dartmouth” (Nat.
Hist. Devon p. 209). Mr. A. G. Moore includes
this species as breeding in Devon in 1865; the Rev.
M. A. Mathew has observed it building in the cliffs
about Lynton. Mr. Murray Mathew reports (May
1890) that he thought that the Rock Dove had
become extinct in Devon; Mr. Howard Saunders
writes, ‘‘In Devonshire it is also rare and very
local” (Yarrell. B.B. Ill. p. 14). Mr. Rawson
reports this bird as still nesting (April, 1890), inthe
cliff caves between Lynmouth and Baggy Point,
and, on being challenged further, replies; “I am
certain about the Rock Dove and am not mixing it
with the Stock Dove, which also nests along the
coast ” (in lit. May 4th, 1890).

TURTLE DOVE.—Turtur communis, Selby.

A SUMMER visitant. ‘The Turtle Dove is not

uncommon in Deyonshire,”’ writes Polwhele; it

is a shy retired bird, breeding in thick woods,
H

114 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

generally of oak. But the intelligence I have
received both from the North and South of Devon,
leads me to conclude that it is not so frequent here,
as in many other counties. ‘It is scarce near
Southmolton,” says one correspondent ; ‘ It is
seldom seen near Modbury,” says another. It is still
a scarce breeding bird in the county, though Mr. W.
E. Toll assures me that, in the neighbourhood of
Slapton Ley, it is increasing in numbers every year.
Here at Broadclyst a pair of Turtle Doves frequent
a clump of holly bushes in an orchard belonging to
my Father, returning to their favourite haunt every
spring. Mr. Gatcombe considered the Turtle Dove
a very uncommon bird in the south-west of Devon,
though he ascertained that it occasionally nested on
the wooded banks of the Tamar. Mr. Mitchell
considers it a scarce bird, but sometimes sees pairs
feeding in the country roads, and once found a nest
in North Devon. Mr. Rawson met with the species
near Braunton.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. alas:
OrpDER PTEROCLETES.

Family PTEROCLID.

PALLAS’S SAND GROUSE.—Syrrhaptes paradoxus (Pall).
A very rare visitant. The irruption of Sand grouse
into Britain in 1863 affected Devonshire to a small
extent only. In June, that year, a flock of thirteen
of these birds appeared on the sands at Slapton Ley.
Two of the number were shot and taken to Mr.
Nicholls, who ascertained by dissection that they
had been feeding on grass seeds (Zool. 1863. p.
8721). In December of the same year a solitary
female was shot at Heanton Court, Barnstaple. It
was in good condition and weighed nine and a half
ounces, or two ounces more than the birds killed on
their first arrival. When the great visitation of
1888 came, a flight of Sand Grouse visited Lundy
Island, and others appeared at Hartland, where Mr.
Hamling records that four or five birds were killed
in the beginning of June (Zool. 1888. p, 266).

Orver GALLINZ,
Family TerRaonrp a
BLACK GROUSE.—7Tetrao tetriz, Linn.
A. RESIDENT species. Polwhele writes in 1796, that ;
‘The Black or Moor Game were formerly very

plentiful in Devon, but are now almost destroyed.”
He quotes the ‘ Palkian M.S.’ as an authority of

116 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

forty years standing, at which time, though much
valued as a delicacy, a Heathpoult sold for eighteen
pence. ‘The whortle-berry (as a gentlemen of
Tavistock informs me) is the principle food of the
black-cock. This beautiful bird is still to be found
on Dartmoor, though not so frequently as it was
half a century ago. Heathpoults are also met with
on Exmoor, and in the neighbourhood of South-
molton; but according to the information of the
late Mr. Bickford of Dunsford, they are much more
frequent on the moors of MHatherleigh and
Holsworthy, than in any other part of Devonshire.
This, indeed, is an excellent shooting country,
supplied with abundance of game; and Mr,
Bickford’s hospitable table was often furnished with
the Heathpoult. It does not appear that either the
Redgrouse or Ptarmigan was ever seen in Devon-
shire” (Hist. of Devonshire, p, 104). Montagu
writes in 1802; ‘“‘On Dartmoor and its neighbourhood
this bird is now become extremely scarce” (Orn.
Dict). Dr. Moore follows in 18357, with the
suggestion, ‘‘ It is very possible that the race of
the blackcock may soon become extinct in Devon-
shire, as the cultivation and enclosure of great parts
of Exmoor, and other causes, depending on the
want of attention to the preservation of the red deer,
in consequence of the decline of the hunt, equally
operates against the heathfowl, and will probably
lead to the latter becoming ultimately as scarce as
the Bustard” (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 228).

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 117

Writing in November, 1848, Dr. Morris states that
the Black Grouse “breeds regularly, but in very
limited numbers, on the high ground between
Axmouth, Devon, and Lyme Regis in Dorset”
(Zool. 1849. p. 2552). Mr. Mitchell writes in 1890,
that a few Black Grouse ‘“‘are to be found on
Dartmoor; on Exmoor they are comparatively
” Stragglers
sometimes wander from the high moors to the low

plentiful, owing to game-preserving.

erounds, Mr. H. Nicholls has sent me word of
three specimens, killed on Chantry Farm, Kings-
bridge, in 1867. Mr. Heath of Exeter tells me
that a few of these birds are seen annually at
Hemyock, near Wellington, on the borders of
Somerset, probably, stray birds from Exmoor.

Family PHASIANIDA.

PHEASANT.—Phasianus colchicus, Linn.

A RESIDENT species, abundant in such well known
coverts as those of Killerton, Haldon, Escot,
Powderham and other large estates. ‘Pheasants,’
says Polwhele, ‘‘ were, some years since almost
annihilated in Devon ; but the breed is again (1797)
beginning to increase from the attention of some
gentlemen, who are endeavouring to preserve them.”
The Rev. W. 8S. Hore records male and female
hybrids between the Pheasant and Blackgame,
obtained in the county. Mr. Whitaker’s sale of
duplicates at Steven’s Rooms, London, May 22nd,

118 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

1890, included, as “lot iii,” a young male hybrid
of the same description, purchased in Plymouth
Market on the 29th of October, 1878, by Mr.
Gatcombe, who described the plumage and _ stated
that it had been killed a few days previously on the
borders of Dartmoor (Zool. 1879. p. 60). The head
and greater part of the neck resemble those of a
young Pheasant, but the breast and lower parts are
of a beautiful glossy black, with violet reflections.
The wings and upper part of the back are darker
than those of an ordinary Pheasant. The tail in
shape resembles that of a hen Pheasant but is not so
long, altogether darker and not so distinctly barred.
In form the bird resembles the Pheasant more than
the Grouse.

RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE.—Caccabis rufa (Linn).

AN INTRODUCED species. In answer to enquiries,
Mr. W. E. Matthews kindly writes that some birds
of this species were introduced into the Plymouth
district about 1860, but whether they established
their footing he is unable to say. The Rev. J. C.
Bulteel writes: ‘‘ I have only come across the Red-
legged Partridges, where they had been turned out,
but they were a great nuisance.”’

PARTRIDGE. — Perdix cinerea, Lath.

A RESIDENT species. The Rev. G. C. Green writes
that with regard to Partridges in S. Devon:
‘“‘ Although they are not numerous, still they are

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 119

more easy of access than in most other places.
The high fences and small fields seem to have the
effect of making them never very wild, so that the
sportsman can get almost as many shots in January as
in September ” (Natural History and Sport, p. 129).
Dr. W. R. Scott writes in the “ Transactions of the
British Association” for 1869, of Partridges
obtained in West Devon between 1859 and 1863,
which entirely lacked the usual ‘‘ horseshoe ” of
this species, and suggests that they were possibly
hybrids between this species and the Red-legged
Partridge.

QUAIL.—Coturniz communis, Bonnat.

A sUMMER visitant, occasionally wintering. The
year 1870 was a great Quail year in Devon. Mr.
Harting stated that the Quail nested that year on
Lundy Island, and that many were shot in
September and October, as many as three brace and
a half in one day (Zool. 1871. p. 2521). Quail
were shot the same season near Torquay, and
Gatcombe remarked that the species was then
exceptionally numerous in West Devon, apparently
on the autumn migration. In 1885 he commented
on a bird shot near Plymouth on the 23rd_ of
August, describing the Quail as “a bird seldom met
with in this part of the country.” Upon the 2nd
of October in the same year, a female was captured
at the lantern of Bideford Lighthouse at 11 p.m,

120 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

and this was obviously a migrating bird (Migration
Report, 1885, p. 124). The Rev. G. C. Green
states that the Quail occurs occasionally near
Modbury.

OrperR FULICARIA.
Family RALLipaz.
CORN CRAKE.—Crez pratensis, Bechst.

A NUMEROUS summer visitant, nesting freely in our
mowing-grass fields, and shot in large numbers in
September. The Rev. M. A. Mathew writes under
date of October 30th, 1886, “ At this time of the
year, I used frequently to flush landrails on the
coldest and most elevated bogs on Dartmoor, some-
times seeing five or six of a day.”

SPOTTED CRAKE.—Porzana maruetta (Leach).

AN AUTUMN and spring visitant, met with in sparing
numbers between August and November. Dr.
Elhot considers that it may be termed “rare” in
Devon. I have a specimen obtained at Crediton.
Mr. D’Urban records it as occurring on the Exe.
Mr. Gatcombe examined a few Spotted Crakes
killed near Plymouth in autumn, as also a_ bird
felled at Tavistock by the telegraph wires, a fate
that frequently falls to the lot of this species when
migrating. Montagu met with the Spotted Crake

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 121

in Devon as early as March 14th, and as late as
October 23rd, ‘‘ but never in the winter months.”
A winged bird lived for nearly a month in
confinement, fed freely on worms the day it was
captured, and shared the bread and milk of the
Rufts.

LITTLE CRAKE.—Porzana parva (Scop).

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore writes; ‘‘The only
specimen known to Montagu was in the possession
of Dr. Tucker of Ashburton, but another was
obtained by Drew in August, 1831, which is now m
his possession” (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 323).
The Rev. C. J. Bulteel informs me that a third
specimen of the Little Crake was killed at Hunsden
by his father, the late Rev. Courtenay Bulteel.

BAILLON’S CRAKE.—Porzana bailloni (Vieill).

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore includes this species
as ‘‘very rare. One specimen was seen fluttering
against a house in Devonport, May 13th, 1829, it
was caught by some boys, and is now in Mr. Drew’s
collection ” (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 323). The
Rey, C. J. Bulteel informs me that a specimen of
Baillon’s Crake was shot near Kingsbridge some
years ago, either by Mr. H. Young himself, or by
a friend of that gentleman. On the 4th of February
1876, Mr. G. F. Mathew shot a fine specimen of
this pretty little Crake by the side of one of the

122 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

numerous pools on Braunton Burrows. ‘ When
first observed, it was feeding out in the open; but
as soon as it caught sight of me it scuttled off as
fast as it could, to the shelter of the thick rushes
which surrounded the pool; and as it thus half ran,
half flew, I fired and winged it: and it was only
by searching each clump of rushes carefully with
my hands that I succeeded in finding it, as it had
crept into one of the thickest tufts, where it had
crouched down and was completely hidden” (Zool.
1876, p. 4844).

WATER RAIL.—Rallus aquaticus, Linn.

A RESIDENT species, chiefly noticed in the winter
months. The Rev. M. A. Mathew includes this
in a list of ‘ Birds which nest in Devon,’ and
Mr. Mitchell has taken the nest in the North of the
County, though he regards the Water Rail as rare
in the breeding season.

MOORHEN.—Gallinula chloropus (Linn).

A common resident. Mr. Mitchell remarks that
the Dartmoor streams are unsuited to this species,
but in other parts of Devon it breeds freely. He
once found a nest in an ivy-covered tree, twenty
feet above the water, and I frequently find the nest
in hawthorn bushes overhanging the water, and
more than ten feet above the surface.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 123
COMMON COOT.—Ffulica atra, Linn.

A RESIDENT breeding species, having its head-
quarters at Slapton Ley, where Dr. Elhot states
that as many as two thousand have been shot in one
‘drive.’ Mr. Mitchell has never seen the Coot in
the Tavistock district, but has met with them on
the Taw in North Devon.

Orper ALECTORIDES.
Family GRuIDzA.
CRANE.—Grus communis, Bechst.
A RARE Visitant. Dr. Moore states that in September
1826, a fine specimen was shot in the parish of
Buckland Monachorum, near Plymouth. It was
wounded in the wing, and made a desperate
resistance. Dr. Moore adds that it entered Drew’s
collection (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 322). This
bird appears to have been added subsequently to
the collection of the late Mr. Rodd, who states that
it had frequented the banks of the Tamar for some
time before it was shot (B. of C. p. 126). Mr. H.
Nicholls records that, in 1869, a Crane frequented
the high level fields near the Start Light House, on
five or six successive days. ‘‘It was very shy and
kept in the middle of the fields, frequently in
company with the sheep. A friend of mine shot
at it twice, but without effect ” (Zool. 1869. p, 1866).

124 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Family OTD mA.

GREAT BUSTARD.—Otis tarda, Linn.

A RARE visitant. Montagu states: ‘‘In the winter
of 1798 one was killed near Plymouth in Devon-
shire, and two others the following year in the same
county” (Orn. Dict. 1802). In his Supplement,
the same writer supplies the additional information
that ‘‘ One of this species shot in Devonshire in
1804, and taken to Plymouth market, was bought
by a publican for a shilling .... The landlord. .. .
had it dressed for the dinner of some riders. These
itinerant gentlemen being as ignorant as the natives,
of the prize set before them, and perceiving upon
dissection, the difference in the colour of the
pectoral muscle from the other part of the breast,

.. ordered it from the table. Some neighbouring
gentlemen happening to sup at the inn the evening
after, and hearing of the circumstance, desired they
might be introduced to this princely bird, and
partook of it cold at this repast.” Dr. Elliot writes
to me, ‘‘ We have one that was purchased in the
flesh in Plymouth Market at the beginning of the
century.” Dr. Moore only refers. to Montagu,
Bellamy hazards the suggestion, “ formerly not
unfrequent on Dartmoor, but is now a questionable
resident ” (Nat. Hist. of Devon. p. 209). On the
31st of December, 1851, a Great Bustard was shot
at Bratton Clovelly, and became the property of
Mr. J. G. Newton (Naturalist, 1852. p. 33). Mr.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 125

Gatcombe examined it in the flesh, and found its
stomach full of turnip leaves. In December 1871, a
flock made their appearance at Braunton Burrows,
and their history was fully ventilated by Mr.
Gatcombe, Mr. Cecil Smith and the Rev. M. A.
Mathew. Mr. Gatcombe was invited by the Rev.
W. S. Hore to visit the locality, and gives the
following account of his expedition. ‘‘At Braunton
we ascertained that the flock consisted of eight
when first observed, and that they alighted in a
field at Croyde, where one was killed by Mr.
William Quick, and another shot, and one wounded
by Mr. Wells near Braunton. The remainder of
the flock then alighted near some boys who were
sliding close to the town of Braunton, who pelted
them with stones, upon which the birds flew off,
and have not since been seen or heard of. The two
killed weighed upwards of nine pounds each. ‘Their
sex, unfortunately was not ascertained when opened,
but, judging from their appearance, I should say
they were male and female, and young birds of the
year” (Zool. 1871. p. 2475). Mr. Cecil Smith adds ;
‘The most interesting ornithological event since
the irruption of the Sand Grouse is certainly the
occurrence of a flock of as many as seven Great
Bustards at Braunton, near Barnstaple. ‘Two out
of the seven were shot, (both, I am told, females,
one weighing seven pounds, the other nine pounds),
one at Braunton on the 31st of December, 1870,
and the other at a place called Croyde, a few miles

126 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

off, where the seven had been seen that morning
and on the next day ; both of these were preserved
by Mr. Rowe, the gunmaker at Barnstaple” (did.
p. 2476).

In confirmation of the foregoing, the Rev. M.
A. Mathew adds: ‘‘ My father writes to me from
Instow that he recently had some conversation with
a gentleman who had been invited to sup off a
Great Bustard, so that it 1s really a fact that the
third of the Braunton Bustards was doomed to the
spit. The flesh of the bird was described as very
good, and dark lke that of a hare. The bird
which met this ignominious fate, was shot on
wing, and fell with a broken pinion, and is said to
have been one of the flock of eight ” (bed. p. 2510).
Most of the country people in the neighbourhood
of Braunton, considered the Bustards to be wild
turkeys, and as such the visitors were duly
chronicled in the ‘North Devon Journal.’ Mr.
Gatcombe, at the Barnstaple Railway Station
observed a man with some feathers in his hat, and
on speaking to him concerning them he replied,
taking off his hat and pointing to a particular one,
‘¢This here, Sir, belonged to one of them Turkey
Buzzards.”

LITTLE BUSTARD.—Otis tetrar, Linn.

A RARE visitant. Montagu obtained a female bird,
shot near Torrington in December 1804, and sold
in Plymouth market as a female Black Grouse. He

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 127

adds; “In the middle of October 1810, we
observed one of these birds ina turnip field in
Devonshire, but it would not suffer us to approach
near enough to shoot it, but it appeared to be in
female plumage” (Suppl. 1815). Dr. Moore records
a third specimen, killed at Bigbury in November.
In the Kingsbridge district, Dr. Elliot says that
three specimens of the Little Bustard have been
obtained at different times. One of these is in his
own possession and another, a female, is recorded by
Mr. H. Nicholls as shot by Lieut. Pearce, on the
high open lands adjoining the sea coast, adjacent to
the Start Lighthouse (Zool. 1864. p. 9039). In
December, 1880, a female Little Bustard was shot
on the 6th of the month, in a turnip field near
North Tawton, by Mr. W. D. Salter. The weather
was fine and the wind south-west. Another female
was killed soon after in the neighbourhood of
Braunton. Mr. G. I. Mathew examined both
specimens, and states that the Rev. M. A. Mathew
obtained the second specimen for his colleetion
(Zool. 1881. p. 58).

128 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
OrpEr LIMICOL.
Family CQADICNEMID &.
STONE CURLEW.—Cidicnemus scolopax (S. G. Gmel).

AN OCCASIONAL visitant, believed to breed annually
in a single locality. Dr. Moore writes; “ Although
Montagu thought them scarce in Devon, and
mentions only two shot in February, near the
Start, yet we not unfrequently meet with them.
In the winter of 1826, Mr. Drew obtained a
specimen, others are in local collections” (Mag.
Nat. Hist. p. 319). Dr. Ellot tells me that an odd
bird is shot every few years in the neighbourhood
of Kingsbridge, and much the same may be said
of the Plymouth and Torquay districts, the Stone
Curlew being always rather rare, even in South
Devon. In the North of the County it is very
seldom noticed. Mr. Mitchell writes, that the only
Devonshire pair of Stone Curlews known to him,
breed regularly on a small common, which he names,
within a few hours’ walk from Tavistock.

Family GUAREOLIDA.

COLLARED PRATINCOLE.—Glareola pratincola, Linn.

A RARE visitant. It has not hitherto been killed in
Devon, but three independent reports of its
occurrence seem to justify its inclusion in the
present work. Lord Lilford states that Mr. Buller
saw two birds of this species on the Warren, a large

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 129

sand-bank at the mouth of the Exe, Sept. 7th, 1851,
‘“ They appeared very tame, occasionally alighting
on the sand, on which their movements very much
resembled those of the Ring Dotterel. Their manner
of flight was very much like that of the swallow”
(Zool. 1852. p. 3710). Mr Ross informed Mr.
Gatcombe that he once saw two on the Warren sands
(Rowe’s b. of D. p. 32); it is possible that he saw
the same birds as Mr. Buller. The third instance
isnow recorded for the first time: ‘‘ The Collared
writes the Rev. G. C. Green, “ was
seen by my sons on the 14th of August, 1885, near
the banks of the Erme in Flete Park. They had

the opportunity of observing it for a long time, and

9)

Pratincole,

sometimes very closely as it was not at all wild.
They could distinguish all its colours and describe
them most faithfully. They were attracted to it
first by its appearance on the wing, when it looked
very like an enormous swallow with its long wings
and forked tail, and flight similar to a Swallow.
It would frequently alight and run about on the
ground, and then it was just likeabird of the Swallow
or Plover tribe. Some weeks after [sawin the /%e/d
the report of a Pratincole from another Western
County; very probably the same bird was noticed

there.”
Family CHARADRIIDA.

CREAM-COLOURED COURSER.—Cursorius gallicus (Gmel).

A RARE visitant. A single bird appeared in

Braunton Marshes in October 1856, and after a
I

130 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

long pursuit was secured by the Rev. J. Landow
(Zool. 1857. p. 5346). This specimen is apparently
the bird alluded to by Mr. Gatcombe in the
following words ; ‘‘On calling at the house of a
gentleman in Braunton, we were shown a lovely
specimen of the elegant Cream-coloured Courser
(Cursorius Isabellinus), well mounted and in nearly
perfect adult male plumage, shewing only a few
faint semilinear markings peculiar to the young ”’
(Zool. W871. p. 2475). | Ine March 1860)" Mir Gaie
Mathew observed two birds of this species in the
same district, but failed to secure them, though
‘quite certain as to the identity of the species”
(Zool. 1860. p. 6980).

DOTTEREL—E£udromias morinellus (Linn).

AN IRREGULAR visitant. ‘‘It is only at very long
intervals that the Dotterel is seen in the West of
England,” writes the Rev. M. A. Mathew, in
recording three birds killed out of a trip of Dotterel
that visited the neighbourhood of Barnstaple in
May, 1879 (Zool. 1879. p. 490). Mr. Rowe says
that the Dotterel is ‘‘ Said to have bred at one time
on Dartmoor, but no specimens have been observed
for many years” (1863). Dr. Elliot writes; ‘‘ A
few specimens have been obtained, and I have
strong reasons for thinking they breed on Dartmoor.”
The spring of the year is the time, when the
Dotterel generally appears in Southern England ;
the Exeter Museum has two birds shot on August

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 131

26th, 1870, but autwmnal occurrences are few and
far between. Apparently the only occasion that
Mr. Gatcombe met with the Dotterel 7 (fe should
be referred to the year 1875, as described in his
own words ; ‘‘ October 22nd, walked with a friend
to the top of the Great Hangman, a lofty bluff or
headland rising a thousand feet above the sea, on
the coast, about seven miles from Ilfracombe. On
our gaining the summit of this great hill, I at once
caught sight of a Dotterel (charadius morinellus),
which almost immediately took wing, uttering a
rather low or feeble note, sounding to me something
between that of the Purre and Ringed Plover. It
did not, however, fly far, but alighted again within a
short distance, giving me a good opportunity of
examining it with my glass, noting its actions and
making several sketches of its attitudes. It
afterwards became very tame, moving slowly about,
now and then stopping suddenly to look round,
listen, or pick up something, and finally allowing
my approach to within fifteen yards. It was
altogether prettily marked, and the white band
above the eye was very conspicuous. The top of
Great Hangman has rather a wild aspect, reminding
one of Dartmoor, being covered with stones, heath
and low gorse, and is, I should think, just the place
where Dotterels might be found on their first
arrival in spring. The view from it is truly
magnificent, but the sight of the Dotterel alone
(the first I had ever met with in a wild state) far

132 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

more than repaid me for a rather hot walk of,
altogether, full twenty miles ” (Zool. 1875. p. 4717).

It is a touching coincidence that the last lines
that Mr. Gatcombe ever penned for the Zoologist
refer to the species that he admired so much,
including, as they do, the only record of the
Dotterel remaining in England until mid-winter.
The ‘ Ornithological Notes from Devon and
Cornwall,’ which appeared in the Zoologist after
his regretted decease (terminating ‘a series of
observations communicated by him annually to
this journal since the year 1872),” conclude: ‘‘ On
the 12th [December, 1886], I purchased in the
Plymouth Market an immature specimen of the
Common Dotterel Endromias morinellus, and the
first local specimen I remember to have met with ”

(Zool. 1887. p. 379).

GOLDEN PLOVER.—Charadrius pluvialis, Linn.

AN AUTUMN and winter visitant. Mr. A. G. More
in 1865 included the Golden Plover as “ breeding
in small numbers in Devon,” and Dr. Elliot
considers that it now breeds on Dartmoor. The
Rey. M. A. Mathew does not, however, include it in
his list of Birds which breed in Devonshire, and
Mr. Mitchell writes that he has never known the
Golden Plover to nest on Dartmoor. He adds that
Golden Plovers arrive numerously on Dartmoor
early in October, that they leave the moor when

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 133

the weather is severe, then resorting to high sheep-
walks, or open cultivated lands. They occur
abundantly in the neighbourhood of our estuaries
at the same season.

GREY PLOVER.—Sqguatarola helvetica (Linn).

AN AUTUMN and winter visitant, but only met with
sparingly. A specimen shot on the Exe is
preserved in the Exeter Museum.

RINGED PLOVER.—4yialitis hiaticula (Linn).

A COMMON resident in suitable localities all round
our coast. I have taken its eggs on the shingle of
Dawlish Warren. The fishermen of the Exe call
this bird the ‘‘ Cats-head.”’

KENTISH PLOVER.—Ayialitis cantiana (Lath).

A RARE visitant. In the year 1861, a female
Kentish Plover was shot on the 7th of May upon
the Plymouth Breakwater. It was killed by Mr.
I. C. Hingston in the presence of Mr. Gatcombe,
who. was the first to pick it up, and by whom its
occurrence was chronicled, with the remark; ‘So
far as I am aware, this is the first recorded
Devonshire specimen” (Zool. 1861. p. 7647),

LAPWING.—Vanellus vulgaris, Bechst.

A common resident, many breed on Dartmoor and
other commons in the County. I have taken its
nest at Broadclyst in cultivated lands. Large

134 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

flocks sometimes visit Lundy Island on migration.
Mr. Mitchell notices that most of those which
breed on Dartmoor leave their summer haunts in
October, returning in March to their nesting
grounds.

TURNSTONE.—Strepsilas interpres (Linn).

AN AUTUMN visitant, occasionally wintering and
lingering also in spring, until summer plumage is
advanced. Small parties are the rule on our
estuaries, but Mr. Gurney reports that large flocks
frequented the mud flats at Instow in September, 1871.

OYSTERCATCHER.—Hematopus ostralegus, Linn.

A WINTER visitant, but met with all the year. The
Warren at Exmouth is a favourite locality, and a
par of Oystercatchers seen there in June 1888,
were probably breeding. Dr, Elliot writes from
Kingsbridge: “A small colony was destroyed
around the Start by the dastardly act of a visitor
at Torcross a few years ago. A few occur but
none breed now.’ Mr. Rawson reports that it
breeds on the North Coast of Devon, and Mr.
Mitchell says; ‘Common on the Coasts of Devon
all the year. Nests on Lundy Island.’ In 1880,
we find the keeper of the Bideford Lighthouse
reporting ; ‘‘ Hundreds of Sea-pies ... . visit the
mussel beds every winter, being seen every day
and night from half ebb to half flood” (Migration
Report, 1880. p. 112). In 1881 we find a similar

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 135

report from this locality, ‘‘ Hundreds of Sea-pies
visit the mussel-beds all the year with Curlews,
Gulls and Stints” (Migration Report, 1881, p. 71).

Family SCOLOPACID A.
AVOCET .—Recurvirostra avocetta, Linn.

A RARE visitant, obtained on our estuaries at long
intervals. Mr. Ross records that a party of six
Avocets visited the Exe in November, 1837, and
Mr. D’Urban reports a bird shot on the mud _ flats
opposite the town of Topsham in 1855. There
are two specimens in the Exeter Museum, one
procured at Dawlish Warren in December 1844,
and the other shot on the Exe, March, 1867. <A
male and two female birds were shot on the Kings-
bridge estuary in October 1880, one of them falling
to the gun of Dr. Elhot, who had previously studied
its movements through a telescope. He saw it
feeding “In an easy and graceful manner, with
rather slow and measured strides, and passing its
head from side to side, scooping up the mud and
swallowing what it had taken.” An Avocet was
killed on the Taw near Barnstaple, in November,
1888, and my own collection contains two specimens
killed at Exmouth, in the same month and year.

BLACK-WINGED STILT.—Himantopus candidus, Bonnat.

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore writes ‘ Mr. Comyns
has a specimen killed in Devon; and Mr. Gosling
informs me of another, shot on Slapton Ley ” (Mag.
Nat. Hist. 1837, p. 323).

136 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.— Phalaropus hyperboreus (Linn).

A RARE visitant to the South Coast of Devon.
Writing in January, 1859, Gatcombe remarks: ‘ I
only know one instance of its having been obtained
in Plymouth ” (Zool. 1859, p. 6378). Exactly ten
years later we find him recording a second specimen
in perfect summer dress, killed on the 7th of June,
1869, on the Hamoaze, off Torpoimt, when swimming
in the water, and performing graceful and sprightly
evolutions in securing its prey on the surface. He
adds : ‘I had never before seen but one Devonshire
specimen and that was obtained in the autumn,”
referring no doubt to the Phalarope killed prior to
the year 1859 (Zool. 1869, p. 1920).

GREY PHALAROPE.—Phalaropus fulicarius (Linn).

AN AUTUMN visitant of irregular occurrence,
generally scarce, but in some years numerous.
Dr. Moore records that, in October 1831, a large
dead whale was towed into Plymouth Sound and
stranded on the beach. ‘‘ When first noticed, it
was swarming with sea birds, among which the
Phalaropes were most conspicuous; they frequented
the rivers for two or three weeks, and during that
time great numbers were shot. Mr. Drew had
above ninety specimens, Pincombe thirty or forty,
Bolitho as many” (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 322).
Dr. Scott of Exeter writes some years later; ‘‘ We
had here, in the winter of 1845, immense numbers

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 137

of the Grey Phalarope. Every winter we have a
few, but on this occasion they came in such flocks
as had never been noticed before. They appeared
to have had a long flight, and to be quite worn
out, so much so that many were caught with the
hand, others knocked down with sticks, and shot
in large numbers as they sat, till very closely
approached. There were several killed on the
quay at Exeter, and it appeared from the many
notices in the local papers, that these birds had
occurred in large quantities on the whole southern
part of this county. The time of their visit was in
October. ...; and this year they certainly appeared
after very strong south-east winds” (Zool. 1849. p.
2384).

In 1857, we find Gatcombe recording that,
‘‘ Some of these birds have been killed at Plymouth
during the past autumn. ‘They are generally
considered rare, but a few may be seen every
autumn in Plymouth Sound, during the equinoctial
gales. ‘There actions at such times are very elegant ;
they alight just outside the breakers, where the
froth and seaweed have accumulated, swim with
extraordinary activity and lightness, constantly
whisking their bodies round, and _ incessantly
nodding there heads and dipping their bills in the
water in search of food. So tame and fearless are
they at these times, that I have actually seen them
give a little spring and flutter only, when fired at
and missed, and immediately go on feeding as if

138 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

nothing had happened. The stomachs of those
that I have examined contained the remains of
insects. .... In 1846 [? 1845], an extraordinary
flight of Grey Phalaropes visited Plymouth and
the neighbouring coasts : they remained about three
weeks, and in such numbers were they, that I saw
a sailor with an old rusty musket literally filling
his pockets with them. On my asking what he
intended to do with so many, he cooly told me that
they ‘made capital pies’” (Zool. 1859. p. 6377).
When the now classical visitation of Phalaropes
came, in 1866, of which Mr. J. H, Gurney is the
historian, Gatecombe wrote: ‘The late severe gales
have driven an immense number of Grey
Phalaropes on the coasts of Devon and Cornwall.
A few specimens of both old and young are to be
met with almost every autumn, on their return
from the breeding places; but within the last three
weeks more than a dozen have been obtained in
the neighbourhood of Plymouth alone, and some
have been observed on inland pools, swimming
among the tame ducks. All the specimens examined
by myself were much emaciated, and one
specimen still retained many of the red feathers
on the breast peculiar to the breeding season”
(Zool. 1866. p. 500). Mr. H. Nicholls adds that:
‘*On the 19th of September [1866] a flock of about
fiity Phalaropes made their appearance on the
Thurleston Ley.... They appear to have been
driven on to this coast by the south-easterly winds”

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 139

(Zool. 1866. p. 527). In 1870, we find the Rey.
M. A. Mathew writing, on October 22nd; ‘‘ The
heavy gale of last week intercepted a number of
Grey Phalaropes on their migration, and caused
them to put in for shelter on our Western Coasts.
I have heard of sixteen being shot in one day, at
Instow in North Devon.” He writes again, on the
3rd of November: “ I hear of Phalaropes occurring
plentifully in many places. The birdstuffer at
Barnstaple speaks of upwards of sixty having been
brought to him for preservation ”’ (Zool, 1870. p.p.
2386. 2410). Mr. Cecil Smith at the same time
recorded a dozen Phalaropes killed in Somerset
with the remark ; ‘In the neighbouring County of
Devon I hear they have been much more plentiful.”
Mr. Balkwill obtained eighteen specimens in
October 1870, at Plymouth, and states that Grey
Phalaropes were scattered over nearly the whole
of Plymouth Sound.

The foregoing statements will suffice to illustrate
the immigration of this bird to Devon in certain
years of exceptional plenty, and to show that both
the North and South Coasts participate in receiving
the visits of the Grey Phalarope. The Rev. M. A.
Mathew points out, for example, than when Phala-
ropes occurred in such numbers on the South Coast
in 1866, many occurred also in September on the
estuary of the river Taw. But it should be under-
stood that the visits which we, in Devon, receive
from the Grey Phalarope, whether of stragglers or

140 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

large flocks, occur almost exclusively in the months
of September and October. Mr. Gatcombe however
records that he observed single specimens on the
S. Coast of Devon in mid-winter, e.g. a bird seen
on the 8th of January, 1873, and another noticed
on the 5th of December, 1876, both near Plymouth.
Birds in summer plumage are still more rare. A
bird in the full red dress of summer was obtained
in Devonshire by the late Mr. Bond, and was sold
at Stevens’ Auction Rooms, London, May 22nd,
1890. Mr. H. Nicholls has another red-plumaged
bird, obtained in the county in May, 1844. In
1876, Mr. Gatcombe examined a nearly full plumaged
bird caught in Stonehouse Creek, on the fifth of
August, which elicited the comment: “I have
never known them to occur in Devon before
the middle or latter end of September, October
being the usual time of their appearance ” (Zool.
1876, p. 5083).

WOODCOCK .—Scolopaz rusticula, Linn,

A wINter visitant. Writing of Devonshire in 1796,
Mr. Laskey observes; ‘‘ In the course of my
summer peregrinations on the sea coast, I picked up
about two years since, the entire skeleton of a
Woodeock, perfectly bleached by the rays of the
sun. This bird, I supposed, had dropped in the
sea in the course of his migratory flight, and by
the waves drifted ashore” (Gents’ Mag. vol. 66. p.
402). But though chiefly a late autumn and early

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 141

spring immigrant, partially wintering, Mr. D’Urban
records that a nest containing four eggs was found
in the parish of Whitstone, near Exeter, in April,
1853. The Earl of Morley has informed me of a
young Woodcock in his collection, obtained from
Saltram. A Woodcock with white feathers in the
wings frequented a cover in the manor of Monkleigh
for several seasons prior to 1837, when it was at
last secured. A copy of Charleton’s ‘Onomasticon
Zooicon,’ 1668, in the British Museum contains in
M.S. note, a record of ; ‘‘ A White Ousle killed in
Lanerot Wood, Cornwall, a White Robbin in
Powhill, Cornwall, and a White Woodcock at
Pertherwin, Devon.” No date is given, but the
note appears to be an early one. Dr. Elliot remarks
that there are some noted coverts for Woodcock in
the Kingsbridge district.

GREAT SNIPE.—Gallinago major (Gmel).

AN AUTUMN visitant, of somewhat rare occurrence,
between August and November. A Great Snipe
was shot at Shaugh Moor in September, 1850,
another at Slade, near Exeter, in October 1856, and
others near Plymouth in November 1858, on
Dartmoor in 1868, at Morley in September 1871,
on Dartmoor in August 1876, at Brayton Mere in
September 1886, and another in N. Devon the
month following. This list might be further
extended, but it will probably suffice to illustrate
the visits of this species. The Rev. M. A. Mathew

142 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

himself, shot a Great Snipe on Dartmoor in 1868,
in a gale of wind and rain; three others were
recorded from the County the same season, The
Specimens that occur are believed to be chiefly
young birds, but Mr. Gatcombe states regarding
the bird killed on Dartmoor on the early date of
August 23rd (1876), ‘‘ Although not a very large
bird, I feel sure from the state of its plumage and
general appearance, that it is an adult” (Zool.
1876. p. 5126).

COMMON SNIPE.—Gallinago celestis (Frenzel).

A RESIDENT species. Mr. Jordan writes in 1843,
that Snipe ‘ Are in the habit of breeding on
Dartmoor every year, where the young ones are
sometimes killed before they have got the powers of
flight properly developed” (Zool. 1843. p. 362).
Modern improvements have largely encroached on
the Snipe’s favourite nesting grounds in Devon,
but Mr. Mitchell still meets with breeding birds on
Dartmoor. The late Mr. Rodd drew attention to a
variety of Snipe, provisionally distinguished as the
‘Russet Snipe,’ as differing from the common form
of Snipe in its slightly larger size and ruddy brown
hue. Mr. Gatcombe met with two specimens of
this variety, one of the two being killed on
Dartmoor (Zool. 1862. p. 7939). Snipe are
occasionally reported from the Lighthouses on the
Devonshire coast. Thus in 1884 a Snipe was
captured at the Start Lighthouse on November 12th

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 143

at midnight. In 1885, another migrating bird was
killed at Bideford Bar on the 10th of the same
month. Snipe are also reported as visiting Lundy
Island at that season, Sometimes in company with

Woodcock.

JACK SNIPE.—Gallinago gallinula (Linn).

A WINTER visitant. Mr. Gatcombe writes in 1878 ;
‘‘ Jack Snipe appeared unusually early this year.
Two were shot on September 17th, and others a
few days earlier.” The Rev. M. A. Mathew
furnishes additional evidence of such early arrivals:
“On Dartmoor the 10th September was an average
date for flushing the first Jack. On some salt
marshes near Barnstaple, I have seen Jack Snipe on
September 3rd.” The greater number of those
that visit this county arrive in October and
November.

RED-BREASTED SNIPE.—Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmel).

A RARE visitant. Montagu says ; ‘A small flock of
these extremely rare birds made their appearance
on the coast of Devon in the spring of 1803, one of
which was shot in my neighbourhood, and is now
in my museum ” (Linn. Soc. Trans. IX. p. 198).
He adds, in his Supplement, that this bird was a
female, killed near Kingsbridge on the 21st of
May, 1803. Dr. Moore records a_ second
Devonshire specimen, in the collection of Mr. Drew

144 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
(Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 321). Mr. H. Nicholls,

writing in September 1857, records a third specimen
as ‘' Taken in this district a short time since” (Zool.
1857. p. 5791).
PECTORAL SANDPIPER.—7ringa maculata, Vieill.

A RARE visitant. Two examples of this Nearctic
Sandpiper were shot at Braunton Burrows on
September 12th, 1871, and proved on dissection to
be male and female. When first discovered by
Mr. Rickards, who afterwards procured both birds,
they were running on the margin of a large fresh
water pool in a marshy field, and allowed of a near
approach. ‘ When they rose,” writes Mr. Rickards,
“they uttered a peculiar note, rather weak and
feeble for the size of the bird, and reminding me
more of the note of the Curlew Sandpiper than
that of any other species that I have seen.....
They never flew to any great distance, and after
the female was shot, the male described a circle
round her and pitched a short distance off, rising
and repeating the evolution as I approached within
range..... I took the Pectoral Sandpipers next
day to the Rev. W. 8. Hore of Barnstaple, who
takes much interest in inspecting all local captures”

(Zool. 1871. p, 2808).

BONAPARTE’S SANDPIPER.—Tringa fuscicollis, Vieill.
A RARE visitant. No less than four examples of
this small American Sandpiper were killed in 1870,
all occurring in the North of the County, to which

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 145

they had no doubt travelled incompany. Mr. Cecil
Smith received one in the flesh on the 7th of
November, “shot on the river between Barnstaple
and Instow,” and another was sent to him on the
10th of the month; both of these birds were sold
as lot, 106 at Mr. Smith’s sale at Steven’s, London,
on June 24th, 1890. Of the other two specimens
obtained, one was unfortunately too much injured to
be preserved; the other entered the possession of
the Rev. M. A. Mathew (Zool. 1870. p. 2409, 1871.
p. 2441).

DUNLIN.—Tringa alpina, Linn.

AN AUTUMN and winter visitant to our estuaries,
when large flocks congregate on the mud banks at
the mouth of the Exe and other rivers, feeding
eagerly in the sand as the tide begins to ebb.
Large numbers are supplied to the poulterers in our
seaside resorts, the species being numerous from
August, when young birds first arrive on the coast ;
these are for a time confiding and fearless. Mr.
Rawson finds the Dunlin common in winter on the
Taw river and in Woolacombe Bay, it is equally
plentiful at that season on the South Coast. Dr.
Moore states in his ‘Ornithology of Dartmoor,’
(Rowe’s Perambulation of Dartmoor, 1848), that
the Dunlin breeds on Dartmoor, but this statement
has never apparently been substantiated, though the
late Mr. Rodd proved that the Dunln breeds in
Cornwall. In August, 1876, Gatcombe detected
J

146 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

among some Dunlins killed near Plymouth, “ A few
of the very small variety or race answering to the
Tringa schinzt of Brehm, one of which was an
adult in full breeding dress, with a fine black
breast, and really not much larger than the Little
Stint ” (Zool. 1876. p. 5109).

LITTLE STINT.—Tringa minuta, Leisl.

A SPARING visitant to the sandy estuaries of North
and South Devon in early autumn, usually in
immature plumage. The Rev. M. A. Mathew
records an adult killed in summer plumage on
August 22nd, shot out of a flock of Dunlins,
Little Stints seldom occur on the Devonshire Coasts
later than September, but Gatcombe records a
specimen killed near Plymouth in 1875, as late as
the 9th of December. This bird was in full winter
plumage, a stage very rarely met with in Great
Britain. I have examined a few local specimens
in the hands of the Exmouth taxidermists, but
these were exclusively young birds, killed in
September.

TEMMINCK’S STINT.—7Zringa temmincki, Leisl.

A RARE visitant. Dr. Moore states; ‘“ 'T'wo of these
birds were shot near Stonehouse Bridge, on
Coronation day ; and are now in Bolitho’s collection”’
(Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 322). This, Mr. Rowe
corroborates in the following words; ‘‘ Two of

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 147

these birds were shot in 1837, near Stonehouse
Bridge ” (Birds of Devon, p. 35). I do not know
of any recent occurrences in the county.

AMERICAN STINT —Tringa minutilla, Vieill.

A veRY rare visitant. A single specimen of the
present species was shot at Northam Burrows on
the 22nd of September, 1869, after a prevalence of
south-westerly gales. Mr. Rickards, who obtained
the specimen, gives the following description of its
habits: ‘LI observed the bird for several successive
mornings before I obtained it, on a salt marsh
lying between Northam Burrows and the estuaries
of the rivers Taw and Torridge, and on every
occasion it was alone. It seemed very active and
restless, and was rather difficult of approach.
When it rose, it always repeated a short hurried
note, similar to that of the other two species,
though perhaps shriller and more frequently
reiterated. Its flight was strong and rapid for so
small a bird, and struck me as being something like
that of the Common Sandpiper, which bird indeed
(except with regard to the vibratory motion of the
body peculiar to that species), it somewhat
resembled in its movements when on the ground.
It always flew away across the water out of sight
and at a great height, but it invariably returned to
the same spot where I had first ‘observed it ” (Zool.
1870. p. 2025).

148 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
CURLEW SANDPIPER.—7ringa subarquata (Guild).

A SCARCE autumnal visitant. Mr. Gatcombe once
saw a compact flock, consisting of more than a
hundred, flying across the mud banks of the river
Lynher, but it usually appears either in small
parties of its own species, or associating with the
Ringed Plover and Dunlin, from the last of which
it may readily be distinguished by the white upper
tail-coverts, longer legs and more upright carriage.
Adults are always rare, and I have only examined
immature birds in the County, but the Rev. M. A,
Mathew killed two adult males in fine summer
plumage, in August and September, 1856, upon the
sandy flat of the Taw estuary.

PURPLE SANDPIPER.—Zvinga striata, Linn.

A WINTER visitant to the coasts of Devon. Mr.
Gatcombe writes that, ‘‘ Small parties of the Purple
Sandpiper visit the rocky Coasts of Devon and
Cornwall every year, arriving at the latter end of
October, and remaining until the spring ; but during
the last two months [November, 1865—January
1866], they have been unusually abundant. A few
weeks since, on visiting the Plymouth Breakwater
with a friend, we fell in with several flocks, from
which we obtained many specimens. When feeding
on the rocks during stormy weather, the Purple
Sandpiper has a habit of crouching on the
approach of a large wave, holding firmly on to the

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 149

rock, and allowing the spray to dash completely
over it; on the receding of the wave it rises and
runs about nimbly, feeding until the approach of
the next.” On the 2nd of October, 1871, Gatcombe
watched two on the rocks at Plymouth: they were
exceedingly tame, as is usual with this species. On
the 11th of. November, 1875, he writes; ‘ Purple
Sandpipers seem to have arrived in numbers during
the past month, I saw some feeding on the rocks
at the Point this morning, and many have been
shot.” In 1879, again, he records the arrival of a
a small flock of Purple Sandpipers on the 15th
of October, a date which he considered early for
Devon. Specimens have been obtained in North
and South Devon by Mr. Cecil Smith, Mr. Rickards
and other naturalists, but Dr. Elliot rightly points
out that this bird is distinctly local in its distribu-
tion, and almost confined to the rocky portions of
our coast-line.

KNOT.—Tringa canutus, Linn.

A coMMon autumn and winter visitant to our
estuaries, rarely met with in the County in the
spring of the year. I have shot specimens on the
mud banks opposite Topsham, as early as the 12th
of September, but large flocks chiefly arrive in
early winter. Mr. Rickards killed a Knot in nearly
full summer livery, on the Coast of North Devon
early in September 1870, and Mr. D’Urban records

150 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

two full dressed birds, one shot at Topsham in
August, 1877, the other killed in May, 1844.
Abnormal varieties of this bird are rare, but Mr.
H. Nicholls shot a White Knot on the Kingsbridge
estuary, in September, 1865 (Zool. 1866. p. 526).

RUFF.—Machetes pugnaz (Linn).

AN AUTUMN visitant, of somewhat rare occurrence
on our coasts in early autumn, though Dr. Elliot,
the Rev. M. A. Mathew, Mr. Rickards and other
naturalists have met with specimens. September is
the chief month for its arrival, but Gatcombe
records a Reeve killed on Dartmoor as late as
October (Zool. 1879. p. 113). The Ruff is seldon
observed in Devon on the spring migration: but as
long ago as 1806, Montagu obtained a male bird
with a white ruff, shot at the mouth of the Avon
on the 17th of May.

SANDERLING.— Calidris arenaria (Linn).

AN AUTUMN visitant, of occasional occurrence in
winter and in the springof the year. Dr. Elhot
remarks that it is principally found on our coasts in
September, but he once found a large flock at
Thurlestone on the 21st of May; The late Mr.
Gurney observed a single bird feeding along the
margin of Slapton Ley on the 4th of June, 1871.
Gatcombe considered the Sanderling to be generally
a scarce bird in the Plymouth district, but he

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 151

examined specimens in all stages, young birds killed
in August and September, adults in summer dress,
and others in winter plumage. Large flocks of
Sanderlings frequented Burrow Island in November,
1876 ; many were shot, and those examined by
Gatcombe were in winter dress.

BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER.—7ryngites rufescens (Vieill).

A RARE visitant. Mr. H. Nicholls records that a
female specimen of this North American bird was
shot near Kingsbridge, in September, 1857 (Zool.
1857. p. 5791).

COMMON SANDPIPER.—Totanus hypoleucus (Linn).

A SUMMER visitant, often called the Summer Snipe
in Devon. It is common during the summer
months on the Dartmoor streams, upon which
Gatcombe discovered eggs. In autumn, the
Common Sandpiper forsakes the moors, and resorts
to the estuaries of rivers, preparatory to departing
for the winter.

GREEN SANDPIPER.—Totanus ochropus (Linn).

A scarce autumnal visitant to our rivers and
estuaries, chiefly between the end of July and the
beginning of October. Gatcombe examined a
Green Sandpiper killed in the month of January,
‘A very unusual date for this species to be met
with in our neighbourhood, since it generally

152 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

appears early in the autumn, and then _ but
sparingly.” Dr. Elliot writes that this bird occurs
at Kingsbridge ‘‘ quite independently of season.”
Dr. Moore, like Gatcombe, examined birds killed
in January.

WOOD SANDPIPER.—Totanus glareola (Gmel).

A RARE visitant. The Rev. M. A. Mathew records
a bird shot near Barnstaple on the 13th of August,
1859, and a second shot near Barnstaple in the
same month, in the year, 1875. Mr. Gatcombe
comments on the absence of this species from the
Plymouth district, but it occurs on the south coast
occasionally. A specimen killed at Slapton Ley is
preserved in the Torquay Museum.

REDSHANK.—Totanus calidris (Linn),

AN AUTUMN and winter visitant to our estuaries.
The Rev. M. A. Mathew includes the Redshank in
his M.S. list of birds which nest in Devon; but I
have not met with it, myself, in the breeding season.

SPOTTED REDSHANK.—Totanus fuscus (Limn).

A RARE autumn (and winter) visitant, only reported
from our southern estuaries, and there obtained at
long intervals, as a straggler from its proper lines
of migration. Montagu records a specimen killed
in South Devon in the month of August. Dr.
Moore obtained a specimen shot in Hamoaze,

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 153
November, 1829. At Kingsbridge, Dr. Elliot only

knows of two local specimens, one obtained nearly
forty years ago [about 1850], the other shot in
August 1885. In the month of February, 1874,
Mr. Gatcombe examined a Spotted Redshank,
killed in the estuary of the Erme a short time
before. He remarks that ‘ It was in perfect winter
plumage, and is a rare bird in Devonshire”’ (Zool.
1874. p. 3944). Most of the specimens of the
Spotted Redshank that have been obtained in this
country, hitherto, have proved to be in immature
plumage. Birds killed in full winter dress are
very seldom recorded.

GREENSHANK.—Zotanus canescens (Gmel).

AN AUTUMN visitant in small numbers to our
estuaries, rarely observed with us in the spring of
the year. In autumn it occurs at Northam
Burrows, on the Teign and Exe, at Kingsbridge
estuary and other situations adapted to its
requirements. In 1879, Mr. Gatcombe both heard
and saw a Greenshank flying up the Tamar on the
13th of January,—‘‘ A very uncommon bird with
us in winter, although a few generally visit our
mud-flats during the autumn ”’ (Zool. 1879. p. 206).

BAR-TAILED GODWIT.—Limosa lapponica (Linn).

AN AUTUMN and spring visitant to our estuaries.
Writing from Barnstaple in 1856, the Rev. M. A.

154 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Mathew states that the Bar-tailed Godwit, ‘ Has
been this season unusually plentiful, and great
numbers of them have been shot: after the severe
gales of the 26th and 27th September, they were
driven into the river in large flocks, and were
easily approached: they have singular tactics as
one walks towards them. While they feed, they
are generally scattered over the ooze in a long,
irregular line; as one approaches them, the birds
on the flank sides of the flock take wing, wheel
once or twice over the others, uttering all the while
their peculiar cry, and finally settle closer together
among the rest ; this manceuvre is once or twice
repeated as one draws nearer to them, and each
time they rise and settle, they form themselves into
a thicker body, and if they remain on the ground
until one arrives within a reasonable distance for a
shot, a great number can always be laid low by a
single discharge” (Zool. 1858. p. 5348). Mr.
Murray Mathew adds on a later occasion, “ Among
some Bar-tailed Godwits shot on the sand flats of
the Taw on September 13th was one which was
already in nearly complete winter dress. It was in
company with others, which were still exhibiting
some of the red livery of summer” (Zool. 1877. p.
448). Mr. Gatcombe writes that this Godwit,
‘Seldom remains with us during the winter, but
one was shot near Plymouth on January 28th,
(1877). Mr. G. F. Mathew shot another bird in
full winter, on the mud-flats opposite Dittisham, of

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 155

which he remarks, ‘‘ It was by itself and in good
condition, so it is strange what it was doing in this
country so long after the departure of its companions”’
(Zool. 1876. p. 4992). Dr. Elhot writes to me of
this species as observed near Kingsbridge, ‘‘ Not
numerous as a rule, but some come every autumn
and spring. In the spring of 1876, during
continuous east wind, a large flock estimated at
from two to three hundred birds came into the
estuary.” Mr. Gatcombe independantly remarks,
that an unusual number of Bar-tailed Godwits in
spring plumage made their appearance on the Coasts
of Devon and Cornwall in May, 1876, and many
were killed. The females as usual exceeded the
males in size and length of bill, but possessed ‘“ far
less red on the plumage” (Zool. 1876. p. 4992).
Those that Gatcombe dissected proved to have been
feeding on ‘sand hoppers.”

BLACK-TAILED GODWIT.—Limosa belgica (Gmel).

A RARE visitant to the estuaries of N. and 8, Devon
during the autumn months. It has occurred
possibly in spring, for a bird in full summer dress,
shot on the Exe, is preserved in the Exeter Museum;
but Mr. G. F. Mathew records that a Black-tailed
Godwit, killed on the river Taw in the autumn of
1859, proved to be “in fine summer plumage.”
The same gentlemen records a young bird of this
species, shot on the banks of the Taw in September,
1868 (Zool. 1868. p. 1459). Dr. Elliot tells me

156 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

that the Black-tailed Godwit is ‘‘ observed now
and then in autumn ” on the Kingsbridge estuary ;
my own collection includes a bird killed near

Plymouth.

COMMON CURLEW.—Numenius arquata (Linn).

A RESIDENT species, of which Mr. Mitchell tells me
that a few pairs breed on Dartmoor every year.
Many frequent our estuaries during the winter
months, and now breeding birds may be met with at
all seasons.

WHIMBREL.—Numenius pheopus (Linn).

A SPRING and autumn visitant to our coast lines ;
well known to the fishermen on the Exe, who,

I find, call the Whimbrel the ‘‘ Cuckoo Curlew.”

OrpER GAVLA.

Family Wari.
Subfamily STERNIN 2.

BLACK TERN.—Aydrochelidon nigra (Linn).

A sPRING and autumn visitant, sometimes numerous
at the latter season in immature plumage. Mr.
Gatcombe writes in September, 1866: ‘ The young
of the Black Tern have been plentiful this season.”
Many records of its autumnal occurrence exist, and

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 157

Montagu obtained an immature bird as late as
the beginning of November. Dr. Elliot writes
that, a Black Tern was killed near Kingsbridge, in
May of the present year, (1890), adding that
vernal occurrences in his neighbourhood are rather
unusual.

WHITE-WINGED BLACK TERN.—

Hydrochelidon leucoptera (Schinz).

A RARE visitant. ‘‘A specimen,’ writes Mr.
Howard Saunders, ‘‘in a very interesting state of
change from summer to winter plumage is in the
possession of Mr. Westlake of Ilfracombe, North
Devon, shot there early in November, 1870”
(Yarrell. B.B. III. p. 523). The late Mr. Ross
appears to have recorded this species as once
captured at Plymouth, but as Mr. Rowe excludes
this species from his list of 1863, it seems undesirable
to repeat a record which may possibly have already
been proved to be erroneous.

WHISKERED TERN.—Hydrochelidon hybrida (Pall).

A RARE visitant. In May, 1865, a single example of
the Whiskered Tern was captured by some fisher-
men near Plymouth, a bird in full breeding
plumage. It was purchased by Mr. Gatcombe,
from whom it passed into the possession of Mr.

Howard Saunders (Yarrell. B.B. III. p. 528).

158 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
GULL-BILLED TERN.—Sterna anglica, Mont.

A RARE visitant. Mr. Gatcombe records that an
immature bird was killed in Plymouth Sound in
the autumn of 1866 (Zool. 1867. p. 557). This
specimen is believed to have entered the collection
of Mr. J. B. Rowe. A record for the North of the
County has proved to be erroneous.

CASPIAN TERN.—Sterna caspia, Pall.

A Rare visitant. No Devonshire specimens are
noticed in the fourth edition of Yarrell. The
responsibility, therefore, for its inclusion here, rests
solely with Mr. Parfitt, who states; ‘‘One, an
immature bird, was killed at Teignmouth, October,
1861 (R. Cumming), one on the Exe (IF. W. L.
Ross), and an immature specimen was shot in
Torbay, September 26th, 1873” (Birds of Devon-
shire, p. 301).

SANDWICH TERN.—Sterna cantiaca, Gmel.

A sPRING and autumn visitant to our coast and
estuaries, at the season of migration. In 1876,
a flight of Sandwich Terns appeared in Plymouth
Sound as early as the 31st of March. One of the
flock was shot, and came under the notice of
Mr. Gatcombe (Zool. 1876. p. 4903).

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 159
COMMON TERN.—Sterna fluviatilis, Naum.

AN AUTUMN and spring visitant to the North and
South Coasts of Devon, often numerous in our
estuaries at the former period.

ARCTIC TERN.—Sterna macrura, Naum.

A spring and autumn visitant on migration.
‘Terns of any kind,” writes Mr. Gatcombe, “ are
seldom seen in our harbours before September, and
these mostly young birds of the year, but I can
remember two extraordinary flights of adult Arctic
Terns occurring on the Coasts of Devon and
Cornwall in May, many years ago; and strange to
say, both flights happened after a dense sea fog”
(Zool. 1872. p 3260).

LITTLE TERN.—<Sterna minuta, Linn.

AN OCCASIONAL visitant, chiefly in the autumn,
when immature birds are not very uncommon at
Exmouth, Kingsbridge, Plymouth and on the
North Coast of the County.

Subfamily LARINA,
SABINE’S GULL.—Xema sabinii (J. Sabine).

A RARE visitant in immature plumage. The Rey.
W. S. Hore records two examples killed near
Brixham, October, 1844 (Zool. 1844. p. 879).
The Rev. M. A. Mathew records a third “ shot
on the South Coast of Devon a few years since ”

160 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

(Zool. 1863, p. 8448). Mr. Gatcombe records a
fourth, killed in Plymouth Sound, in the autumn
of 1866 (Zool. 1867. p. 557). A Sabine’s Gull
killed in Torbay, was sold as lot 150 at Mr. Cecil
Smith’s sale at Steven’s, London, on June
24th, 1890.

LITTLE GULL.—Larus minutus, Pall.

A RARE visitant from autumn to early spring,
chiefly observed on our Southern estuaries in the
winter months. Baron A. von Hugel records
specimens killed in Torbay. Mr. Cecil Smith shot
one off Teignmouth in 1866 (Zool. 1867. p. 562).
Others have been obtained at Plymouth, and
Torquay ; it has been recorded repeatedly on the
Exe, an adult and three immature birds being shot
on that river in the winter of 1876-77 (Zool. 1877.
p- 105). In the North of Devon it is naturally
rarer, but two were shot on the sands near Braunton
Burrows in August, 1858, and another was picked
up dead at Braunton in January, 1869 (Zool. 1858.
p. 6245. 1869. p. 1803). Gatcombe remarks of a
female Little Gull, shot in Plymouth Sound,
February 3rd, 1862, that although immature and
retaining a black band on the tail, ‘‘the black head
of the breeding season was already partially
assumed ’’ (Zool. 1862. p. 7940).

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 161
BLACK-HEADED GULL.—Larus ridibundus, Linn.

A WINTER and spring visitant in great abundance.
‘“T have never known even a young bird,” writes
Mr. Gatcombe, ‘‘to remain with us during the
summer ” (Zool. 1876. p, 4902).

GREAT BLACK-HEADED GULL.—Larus ichthyaétus, Pall.

A RARE and accidental visitant. In the year 1859,
an adult specimen of this large Gull was observed
in the river off Exmouth, at the end of May or
beginning of June. Its size and appearance
attracted the attention of William Pine, a boatman,
who found it associating with ‘‘ a flock of ordinary
gulls.” Pine succeeded in shooting the bird,
which proved to be in summer plumage, Having
entered the collection of Mr. Ross, it eventually
found a permanent home in the Exeter Museum.
Mr. Ross recorded the occurrence in the annals
and magazine of Nat. Hist. ((3,) IV. p. 467), but
a notice of its addition to our avifauna was also
communicated to the Zoologist by Dr. Gray (Zool.
1860. p. 6860). Dr. Bree took occasion to figure
the species in his Birds of Europe (Vol. V. p. 85).
from a drawing of the Devonshire specimen

executed by the Rev. F. Wright.

COMMON GULIL.—Larus canus, Linn.
A common resident on our coast during the winter
months. Itis not known that any remain to breed
with us, though Mr. Rawson is inclined to think
K

162 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

that such may eventually prove to be the case,
having regard to a locality in North Devon. The
late Mr. Stevenson found this species very abundant
at Teignmouth in the spring of the year. ‘At low
water these birds collect in large quantities along
the course of the Teign, dispersing themselves in
groups over the extensive sandbanks left bare by
the tide, and freely mingling with their sable
companions from adjacent rookeries, Carrion Crows
and Jackdaws, crowd the water’s edge in search of

food” (Zool. 1860. p. 6798).

HERRING GULL.—Larus argentatus, Gmel.

A NuMEROUS resident, breeding plentifully in North
and South Devon, on ledges of the sea cliffs. The
colonies at Wembury and Berry Head were a
source of unfailing interest to Mr. Gatcombe, who
frequently visited the former colony in the nesting
time. He records that a Herring Gull became so
attached to a private piece of water at Ivybridge,
as to make its head quarters there, quitting its home
‘sometimes for a few weeks together for the sea-
coast, which is only a few miles distant, but
always returning again, looking to be fed” (Zool.
1872. p. 3168). He noticed the variability of size
to which the Herring Gull is subject, remarking ;
‘‘'The other day I examined an enormous adult
specimen, which was fully as large as an ordinary
sized Larus marinus, its wing measuring nineteen
inches from the carpal joint” (Zool. 1876. p. 4901).

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 163

In May, 1878, he observed two immature birds
feeding on decayed cabbage, a predilection which
he had not observed before in any of the Gull family.

LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL.—Zarus fuscus, Linn.

A PARTIAL resident. Mr. Rawson finds the Lesser
Black-backed Gull breeding at Lundy, Baggy
Point and along the coast to Lynmouth. Mr.
Gatcombe never discovered any breeding colony in
South Devon, although at times the species is very
numerous, particularly in the spring of the year.

TREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL.—Zarus marinus, Linn.

A WINTER visitant, but a few pairs breed on Lundy
Island, as reported by Mr. Rawson and Mr. Howard
Saunders. Gatcombe noticed that these birds
chiefly frequented Plymouth Sound during January
and February, departing early in March when the
lesser species appeared in force. Rough weather,
however, in the channel sometimes induces them to
shelter in the estuaries during the earlier months of
winter. That the Great Black-backed Gull at one
time nested in South Devon, is rendered certain by
the fact that, the Rev. R. Holdsworth sent
information to Mr. Yarrell that ; ‘‘ From an ege of
this species, taken off the Bolt Headland by some
of the crew of the Vigilant, excise cutter, and kept
in a blanket by day, and near the fire place at
night for about ten days, a young gull was hatched

164 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

and reared by the crew, and for many years lived
quite tame in the possession of a smith at
Dartmouth. It swam in the river every day, and
looked out for the fishermen returning from sea,
who used to throw small fish to it” (Yarrell. B.B.
vol. III. p. 634. 4th ed.)

GLAUCOUS GULL.—ZLarus glaucus, Fabricius.

A RARE winter visitant, but immature birds occur
on the South Coast of Devon nearly every year.
Adults are always very rare. The only adult that
Dr. Moore met with, was killed while feeding on
some carrion in a field at Mutley, near Plymouth,
about a mile and a half from the sea. This bird
was obtained on the exceptional date of May 21st,
in the year 1832 (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1837. p. 363).
Baron A. von. Hiigel records another adult, killed
off Torquay, in the winter of 1854, and preserved
in the Torquay Museum. Gatcombe never
examined an adult Glaucous Gull in the flesh
until 1873, when a bird was killed in Plymouth
Sound on the Ist of January. In the winter 1867-8,
Mr. J. H. Gurney received from Plymouth a
Glaucous Gull, “a specimen in what has been
termed the dirty-white plumage intermediate
between the old and young” (Zool. 1876. p. 4798.)
In 1879, Gatcombe saw a Glaucous Gull, ‘apparently
an adult bird,” flying in Plymouth Sound on March
29th. In 1881, he saw an immature bird on the

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 165

coast on April 9th, “rather a late date for that
species in this loeality.” Immature specimens are
recorded from Plymouth, Exmouth, Teignmouth,
and Torbay, of which last locality Baron A. von
Hiigel remarks ; ‘‘ Young birds are rare, but
regular winter visitants to this coast” (Zool. 1874.
p. 3908). Glaucous Gulls are voracious feeders, and
a bird, which Gatcombe himself shot, disgorged a
short junk of Conger eel, almost as large round as
his arm. The stomach of another contained
partially digested fish bones.

ICELAND GULL.—Larus leucopterus, Faber.

AN OCCASIONAL winter visitant, more rare on the
Devon Coasts than the Glaucous Gull. The Rey.
W. 8. Hore records an Iceland Gull shot in Torbay,
in 1844. A specimen shot on the Laira by the
Rev. R. A. Julian, January 30th, 1855, induced
Mr. Gatcombe to remark, ‘“ This species is far less
frequent with us than Larus glaucus ; indeed the
only other one I know of, obtained in this locality,
is in the collection of Dr. Moore, of Plymouth, where
it has been for many years” (Zool. 1855, p. 4705.).
Mr. Gatcombe records an immature bird shot at
Plymouth, November 22nd, 1861, and another
young bird, killed on the 21st of the following
April. Mr. Reading chronicles another killed in
December, 1862, at Plymouth, The late Mr. J. H.
Gurney reported ‘a nearly adult specimen shot

166 | THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

from a boat off Brixham, March 28rd, 1868 ; it was
in company with a flock of Herring Gulls.” On the
4th of February, 1872, Gatcombe watched an
Iceland Gull sailing up and down just above the
low cliffs at the Devil’s Point, which was so tame
and came so close that he could plainly see its pale
flesh coloured bill, with a very dark tip, and also its
pinkish legs. It was in the very light brown or
immature plumage. On the 27th of November,
1873, Gatcombe observed an adult bird in Plymouth
Sound, ‘‘no doubt driven in by the prevailing
northerly gales.” It is unnecessary to further
extend the list of local specimens.

KITTIWAKE.— Rissa tridactyla (Linn).

A RESIDENT species, breeding, according to Mr.
Rawson, along the North Coast of Devon from
Baggy Point to Lynmouth ; ‘ multitudes” says Mr.
H. Saunders “ make their nests on the precipitous
crags of Lundy Island off North Devon” (Yarrell.
B.B. IV. p. 651). Stragglers are to be met with
all along the South Coast in winter, and sometimes
the birds are numerous.

IVORY GULL.—Pagophila eburnea (Phipps).
A RARE visitant. An immature Ivory Gull made
its appearance at Torquay on the 18th of January,
1853. ‘It was first seen” writes Mr. Burt in and
about our pier, evidently much distressed, as it

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 167

kept settling on the pier walls and on the vessels,
it was stoned from this by the boys, and followed
to Livermead, about half a mile from here, and shot
whilst sitting on one of the cliffs” (Zool. 1853 p.
3807). Mr. Rowe endorsed this occurrence, as the
only one known to him killed in Devonshire.

Sub-Family STERCORARIIN A.
GREAT SKUA.—Stercorarius catarrhactes (inn).

A RARE visitant. In 1835, a fine specimen was
captured near Plymouth, on the 16th of February.
It had gorged itself on the flesh of a dead whale,
and was secured by a trawl-boy with a boat hook.
It was carried alive to Dr. Moore (Mag. Nat. Hist.
1837. p. 362). Dr. Scott of Exeter records that a
short time prior to 1849, an adult specimen was
found dead in a field twelve or fourteen miles from
the coast. It was in good plumage, but in poor
condition (Zool. 1849. p. 2384). Mr. D’Urban adds
that a third specimen was shot on the Exe,
December 28th, 1855, by a man named Hall. ‘It
had just struck down and was making a meal off a
Black-headed Gull, and was so intently occupied on
it, as to allow him to approach quite close before he
fired” (Zool. 1856, p. 5065). Writing in 1880,
Mr. Gatcombe remarks that this species, ‘‘ now
unfortunately so rare on our coast, generally goes
by the name of ‘‘Old Hen” (Zool. 1880. p. 22).

168 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
POMATORHINE SKUA.—Stercorarius pomatorhinus (Temm).

A ‘‘ TOLERABLY common autumnal visitor to the
South Coast of Devon, especially about Torbay,”
writes Mr. Cecil Smith, and this definition is about
the best that could be given, for the species occurs
in some years in considerable numbers, having
previously migrated from the Arctic circle down
the North Sea, and thus found its way into the
English Channel. ‘‘ This bird” says the Rev. M.
A. Mathew in 1858, ‘is well known to the sailors
at Torquay, who call it and Richardson’s bird
‘Trish Lords,” why I could not discover.” He
adds that it chiefly occurs in October, that he and a
friend shot five at Torquay, and that he examined
others killed about the same time (Zool. 1859. p.
6331). The Rev. M. S. C. Rickards shot an
immature bird on the beach at Exmouth in 1868,
as early as the 30th of September, a heavy gale
blowing from the S.E. (Zool. 1869. p. 1518). In
1869, Baron A. von Hiigel reported two immature
birds shot in Torbay on the 12th of October. In
1871, two nearly adult and two immature
birds were shot in Torbay in the same months, as
recorded by the late Mr. J. H. Gurney. In 1879,
the year of the memorable visitation of this Skua
to the East Coast of England, the Rev. M. A.
Mathew received two adults shot at Instow, October
21st, and ‘‘ probably part of the immense flight
which had visited the Coast of Norfolk a few days
earlier’”’ Mr. Gatcombe reported that large

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 169

numbers of these Skuas were seen at the same time
by the fishermen on the South Coast of Devon.

ARCTIC OR RICHARDSON’S SKUA.—
Stercorarius crepidatus (Gmel).

An AvTuMN visitant to the North and South Coasts
of Devon, occasionally met with in the Spring
months ; as was the case in 1860, when a male bird
was picked up dead in a field near Kingsbridge on
the 29th of May, and taken to Mr. H. Nicholls
(Zool. 1860, p. 7106). On the 25th of November,
1872, Gatcombe ‘‘ saw a fine adult Richardson’s
Skua fly past the Devil’s Point at Stonehouse. Its
somewhat gliding flight was swift and elegant, but
it did not attempt to molest any of the smaller gulls
on its way, so I think it was merely secking refuge
from the heavy gale that was blowing at the time.
I was near enough to see that its upper plumage was
smoke-gray, with a white patch or two on the
wings, such as most, if not every species of Skua is
sometimes subject to. The top of its head was very
dark, nearly black, and the neck light tinged with
straw yellow. I possess a mature specimen of
Richardson’s Skua, the butts of the wings of which
are pure white, and there are also white patches on
other parts of the body ” (Zool. 1873, p. 38402).

LONG-TAILED OR BUFFON’S SKUA.—
Stercorarius parasiticus (Linn).

A RARE visitant, having only been obtained in
autumn in two known instances, both on the S.

170 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

coast. In 1860, an adult bird was shot in June on
the Kingbridge estuary, and taken to Mr. Nicholls
(Zool. 1860. p. 7106).

Orper PYGOPODES.
Family AUCIDzé.
RAZORBILL.—Alca torda, Linn.

A RESIDENT species, nesting at Lundy Isle, and on
the North Coast of Devon. It may possibly breed
occasionally on our South Coast, for Baron A. von
Hiigel records that ‘a Razorbill, still in the downy
plumage, was shot in Torbay on the 7th of July:
this fact would seem to prove Torbay, or rather the
cliffs, to be a breeding place of this bird” (Zool.
1869, p. 1846). Gatcombe comments on the numbers
of Razorbills and Guillemots which perish on the
South Devon Coast during protracted gales.

GUILLEMOT.—U/ria troile (Linn).

A RESIDENT species. There is a large colony on
Lundy Isle, and Mr. Rawson states that Guillemots
breed up the North Coast of Devon towards
Lynmouth and on Baggy Point. Specimens of the
Ringed variety occur on the South Coast, eg. a
bird shot on Slapton Sands in 1852; An adult shot in
Torbay, October, 1869; Another shot near Plymouth,
March, 1870; Anda fourth obtained in January, |

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 171

1872, in Torbay, where, however, according to the
late Mr. Gurney, this variety is extremely rare.
The Torquay Museum contains two interesting
white varieties of the Guillemot, killed in that
locality.

BLACK GUILLEMOT.—Uria grylie (Linn).

A RARE visitant to the South Coast of Devon, not
yet reported from the northern sea-board. In
December, 1862, a single bird was shot in Plymouth
Sound, eliciting from Mr. Reading the comment :
‘‘'This species is a rare bird in Devonshire; the
specimen that has recently occurred is an old bird
in winter plumage” (Zool. 1863, p. 8448). Similarly
Mr. Gatcombe writes that a bird of the year, shot
in Plymouth Sound, December, 1886, was the only
specimen he remembered having seen in the locality
(Zool. 1887, p. 378). The Black Guillemot has also
been shot in Torbay and on the Exe.

LITTLE AUK.—-Mergulus alle (Linn).

A RARE winter visitant, but one or two are recorded
from some part of the county almost every winter,
and that of 1889-90 was no exception to the rule.
Gatcombe met with specimens in the neighbourhood
of Plymouth on a few occasions, between the
months of October and March, generally after
severe gales. Others have been taken inland, or on
the coast, as at Kingsbridge, Slapton Ley, and in

172 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

Torbay. In the North of the County, Mr. G.
F’. Mathew reports three washed up dead on the
Taw, in 1868; Another was captured on the same

river near Barnstaple, in December, 1875 (Zool.
1876. p. 4814).

PUFFIN.—Fratercula arctica (Linn).

A RESIDENT species, scarce at all times on the South
Coast of Devon, but numerous during the summer
months in the North, breeding at Lundy Island.
Mv. H. Saunders points out that this locality owes
its Scandinavian name to the myriads of Puffins
which breed in its grassy slopes; ‘lunde’ meaning

Puffin, and ‘ ey’ signifying island.

Family COLYMBIDZ.
GREAT NORTHERN DIVER.—Colymbus glacialis, Linn.

A FREQUENT winter visitant to our larger estuaries
and sea-board, chiefly met with in the south of the
County. Mr. Gatcombe studied this species no less
carefully than the Black Redstart, and the notes,
which appeared from his pen, during his later years,
are full of interest. In 1871, a fine old bird in nearly
full summer plumage, made its appearance in
Plymouth Sound on the 30th of October, ‘ rather
early for this species.” In 1875, another was killed
there on the 11th of November, “still in nearly full
summer plumage.” Five others were shot afew days
later. On the 19th of December, he writes: ‘ There
were three Great Northern Divers off Firestone Bay

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 173

this morning, two of which would turn almost
completely over on their backs, with one leg in the
air, during the act of preening the feathers of the
breast.” In 1876 he observed a bird flying high
across the Sound, February 15th. ‘This species,
however, is but seldom seen on the wing in
the winter, unless moving to a distant place.”
In the autumn of that year, he observed the
first arrival of this species on the 30th of
October ; a little later he writes: ‘‘ The severe and
long continued gales in December, brought an
unusual number of Great Northern Divers to our
coasts;’’ examining twelve in the flesh, and
observing as many more in life, justified the
comment. Many were killed also in January and
February, almost exclusively immature birds. The
species had in fact been more plentiful during the
winter 1876-77, ‘‘than for many years past.” In
the autumn of 1877, Gatcombe observed the first
Great Northern Diver of the season on October
29th, and two were killed the next day, on which
he remarks: ‘Northern Divers have made their
appearance early this season, as they seldom visit
the Sound before November.” In 1878, two arrived
on the 12th of October, and eight were shot in
November and the early part of December. Although
the winter 1879-80 proved to be severe, very few
Great Northern Divers appeared at Plymouth. In
1880, the first appeared in Plymouth Sound on the
27th of November ; one was immature, ‘“ the other

174 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

had lost but little of its summer plumage. Adult
birds in such plumage are rarely met with in
Plymouth Sound at any time, much less so late in
the autumn.” In 1882, the first appeared at the
Devil’s Point on the 5th of November. A period of
more than ten years of close research at Plymouth
having thus been covered. Reference may be made
to other localities. At Kingsbridge, an adult was
shot in November, 1865. From Torquay, Baron
A. von Hiigel writes: ‘‘ These birds in immature
plumage, are unusually numerous this winter
(1869-70) in Torbay The first of these fine Divers
was shot on the 17th of December, since which I
have heard of no less than eight or nine of these
birds being obtained in the bay, and of course many
others have been seen.’”’ He adds that a pair in full
summer dress had been killed in Torbay some years
before. Of the Exe, Mr. D’Urban writes: ‘‘ Several
immature birds were shot in November and
December, 1870, and »ne on January 16th, 1879.
Others, both adult and immature, have occurred
on the Exe, in summer as well as in winter” (Zool.
1881, p. 58). In the north of the county, the Great
Northern Diver is less often seen, but the Rev. M.
A. Mathew records the presence of several immature
specimens on the Taw in December, 1857 ; and Mr
G. F. Mathew reports two birds in nearly full
summer dress (only a few grey feathers appearing
on the head and throat), shot on the Taw, near
Barnstaple, in the last week of November, 1880.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 175

All the foregoing occurrences took place between
October and April. But Mr. Gatcombe killed a
Great Northern Diver off the coast at Seaton, on
the 15th of June, 1861. Unfortunately, the bird
was in moult and had but partially completed its
summer dress. He found the food of this species
to include eels, fatherlashers, flat-fish, worms,
prawns and swimming crabs. ‘ Divers,’ he says,
‘seem to feed largely on crabs, as I have often
found their stomachs full of them.”

BLACK-THROATED DIVER.—Colymbus arcticus, Linn.

AN OCCASIONAL winter visitant to our estuaries,
usually in immature plumage. Mr. Gatcombe,
when recording two immature birds killed near
Plymouth in 1879, took occasion to remark, ‘“ I
have never yet seen or heard of an adult bird of
this species having been obtained near Plymouth,”
adding that the most advanced specimen which he
had examined was a bird shot by his brother near
the Devil’s Point many years previously. At
Kingsbridge, an adult bird was obtained in
November, 1865, by Mr. Nicholls (Zool. 1866. p.
527),

RED-THROATED DIVER.—Colymbus septentrionalis, Linn.

A WINTER visitant to our estuaries. Immature birds
largely predominate, but the numbers vary much
in different seasons. Many frequent the neighbour-

176 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

hood of Teignmouth, they are sometimes numerous
in Torbay, and Plymouth Sound is a noted haunt,
but on the whole their numbers seem to have
decreased latterly. In the late winter and early
spring of 1869 and 1870, they were very numerous
at Teignmouth and in Plymouth Sound, but Baron
A. von Hiigel found them very scarce in Torbay
during the winter 1869-70. In the spring of 1879,
Mr. Gatcombe remarks, ‘Iam glad to say that
Redthroated Divers are now becoming more
numerous than they have been for some years past.
After severe winters, they used formerly to appear
sometimes in great numbers, and on such occasions
many remained on our coasts until they had assumed
their full breeding plumage ” (Zool. 1879. p. 207).
But in 1880 he writes, that this species “ was
unusually scarce in the winter 1879-80, and is
becoming more uncommon every year ” (Zool. 1880.
p:. 247).

Family PopicrPpEDIDA.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE.—Podicipes cristatus (inn).

A WINTER and spring visitant to our larger rivers
and estuaries, generally considered rather a rare
bird in Devonshire, though Baron A. von Hiigel
considered the Great Crested and Sclavonian Grebes
the most numerous of the genus in Torbay. At
Plymouth Mr. Gatcombe met with specimens in
March, 1870, and on some other occasions. On the
Avon, a female bird was shot in December, 1875.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 77,

Mr. D’Urban states that the Great Crested Grebe
‘is not eommon on the Exe, but has been obtained
in various stages of plumage ”’ (Zool. 1877. p. 105).
The late Mr. Stevenson has left a pleasing sketch
of the habits of the Great Crested Grebe, as studied
on the Devonshire coast in March, 1859. ‘I was
somewhat surprised,” he writes, ‘‘to find these
birds not only in the tranquil waters of the bay at
Torquay, but also out at sea, off the coast, at
Teignmouth ... On one occasion I saw a party
of three, apparently an adult pair and a young
bird, having no perceptible crest. The old male
was a most splendid specimen with about the finest
crest I ever saw, and as [ watched him through the
glass, between the intervals of diving, the silky
whiteness of his neck and breast contrasting with the
rich chestnut fringe, glistened in the sun as he rose
and fell on the rippling waves. I afterwards saw
single birds, even in rough weather, diving into the
large billows, or floating hghtly over others, as much
at home on the ‘ troubled sea’ as the Guillemots or
Razorbills ” (Zool. 1860. p. 6797).

RED-NECKED GREBE.—Podicipes griseigena (Bodd).

A winter and spring visitant, of comparatively
rare occurrence on our Devonshire estuaries. Mr.
Gatcombe, when recording a specimen killed near
Plymouth in October, 1861, writes; * Of late years

this species has become very rare.” He met with
L

178 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

others subsequently, notably in 1870. In this year
‘the sudden and severe frost of mid-February,” as
the Rev. M. A. Mathew points out, ‘‘ sent a number
of Grebes to the tidal rivers of all parts of the
coast. The Sclavonian and Red-necked Grebes
occurred abundantly during the latter part of
February and beginning of March, along the whole
seaboard of the S.W. Peninsular of England” (Zool.
1871. p. 2437). Mr. D’Urban contributes an
interesting account of this Grebe in the neighbour-
hood of the Exe. An immature bird was shot near
Topsham in 1850, and entered the collection of
Mr. Ross, in which it subsequently passed into the
Exeter Museum. In December’ 1852, two
frequented a flooded marsh near Topsham for a
week, when one was shot and proved to be
immature. Mr. J. T. Drake shot another off
Starcross, in the estuary of the Exe, January 8th,
1881 (Zool. 1881. p. 58). During the immigration
of 1870, specimens were shot on the Teignmouth
coast, and on the Taw in North Devon.

SCLAVONIAN GREBE.—Podicipes auritus (Linn).

A WINTER visitant; ‘A species which has become
scarce of late years, but was formerly often seen in
our bays and estuaries during severe weather”’
(Gatcombe, Zool. 1879. p. 115). It has occurred
on Slapton Ley, and appears to be met with pretty
regularly in Torbay. It also visits the estuary of

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. ro

the Taw and Torridge in North Devon. Gatcombe’s
notes of such Sclavonian Grebes, as came under
his own notice at Plymouth, refer chiefly to the
months of December and January.

EARED GREBE.—Podicipes nigricollis (Brehm).

A RARE spring and winter visitant to our estuaries,
usually met with in immature plumage. There
are, however, four separate records of its occurrence
in Devonshire in full, or nearly full nuptial dress.
Baron A. von Htgel reports that ‘‘an old bird in
full summer dress, shot off Paignton in May, 1853,”
is preserved in the ‘Torquay Museum (Zool. 1874.
p- 3908). Mr. G. F. Mathew records a fine male
shot out of a party of five on the Taw near
Barnstaple,. April 7th, 1865 (Zool. 1865. p. 9618).
“This,” he adds ‘is the first time to my knowledge
that it has been noticed in the North of Devon.”
Mr. Cecil Smith has given a delightful account of a
male bird captured in the same locality in April,
1874, and sent to him by Mr. Rowe (Zool. 1875. p.
4333). Lastly, Mr. Gatcombe examined a beautiful
adult in perfect breeding plumage, killed in
Plymouth Sound, March 23rd, 1871 (Zool. 1871. p.
2646). Gatcombe adds, *‘ A few immature examples
are occasionally obtained on our coast durig the
autumn and winter, but many years have elapsed
since I examined a previous adult specimen.”
Mr. Cecil Smith writes, of the bird sent to him alive

180 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

in 1874. ‘At first [kept it indoors, when it was
most amusing to see it run about the rooms as hard
as it could go, keeping itself perfectly erect on its
legs. I never saw it attempt to fly, though it
would sometimes flutter its wings when it ran, as
if it intended to rise, but it never actually got off
the ground. I suppose it either did not get run
enough to give it impetus, or it wanted a strong
wind to rise against. It would stand as it ran, very
erect on its legs; but i never saw it sitting up with
the back part of the tarsus on the ground, as
Grebes are so frequently figured as doing, and as
Guillemots and Razorbills do. We were obliged
to feed it entirely on fish, live ones for preference,
which it would catch out of a pan of water with
great dexterity. If a fish hid under a stone or
some bits of weed in the water in the pan, the
Grebe would either turn him out of his hiding
place, or failing that lie in wait for him to come
out. It would eat a few other things, such as
worms, while it wasin the house, would occasionally
catch and eat a black beetle, especially if it was
put into its water-pan, but did not really care much
for anything but fish [ Mr, G. F. Mathew found the
elytra of two or three species of Coleoptera in his
specimen of the Kared Grebe]. It died after I had
had it a week, whether from any injury it received
when first taken, or because I could not get it
fish enough, I do not quite know. It was a male
bird, in almost complete breeding plumage. While

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 181

alive, the irides were the most brilliant red I ever
saw” (Zool 1875. p, 4332).

LITTLE GREBE.—Podicipes fluviatilis (Tunstall).

A. RESIDENT species, common in ‘Torbay and
Plymouth Sound during the winter months, of fairly
general distribution in the breeding season.

Orper TUBINARES.
Family PROCELLARIID A.
FULMAR.—Fulmarus glacialis (inn).

A RARE winter visitant. A Fulmar was captured
near Plymouth in November 1844; Mr. Cecil Smith
captured another on the South Coast of Devon,
November 30th, 1866. Mr, J. H. Gurney received
from Plymouth a Fulmar caught alive in that
locality, October 24th, 1867, which he describes as
‘a female, a young bird and darker than any
which I afterwards got.’ A specimen killed near
Topsham, on the Exe, is preserved in the Exeter
Museum. Pulman records the Fulmar as having
been killed on the Axe (Book of the Axe, p. 27).
In the North of the County, the Rev. M. A.
Mathew records a bird captured in Barnstaple,
during the prevalence of aN.W. gale, February
2nd, 1859.

182 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

GREAT SHEARWATER.—Puffinus major, Faber.

A RARE visitant, and one of great interest, first
brought to light as a Devonshire bird by Dr. Moore,
who, having obtained Eyton’s History of rarer
British Birds (1836), searched the Plymouth
collections for specimens, and found that Drew and
Pincombe had several specimens, which they had
not distinguished from the former species [ the Manx
Shearwater], but merely considered as a larger
specimen than usual (Mag. Nat. Hist. 1857. p. 362).
Bellamy, two years later, describes this species as
‘recognised in the Museums of this neighbourhood
by Dr. Moore, it is rare” (Nat. Hist. of Devon. p.
216). Mr. Banker records the capture of two
Greater Shearwaters in Plymouth Sound, December
11th, 1852 (Naturalist, 1853. p. 204), one of which
was afterwards figured in Dresser’s Birds of Europe.
‘The specimen I have figured,’ writes Mr. Dresser,
“was obtained near Plymouth by Mr. J. Banker
in December, 1852, and after his death purchased of
his widow for me by my friend Mr. Gatcombe”
(B. of Europe. VIII. p. 528). The other specimen
as Mr. J. H. Gurney writes, was sent to the late
Mr. Gurney, and is preserved in the Norwich
Museum. In 1865, two more Greater Shearwaters
were captured with hooks on the whiting ground
outside Torbay, and one of these is in the collection of
my informant, Mr. F. Pershouse ; the other is in the
Torquay Museum. In 1867, apparently in the

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 183

month of October (Zool. 1868. p. 1295. 1876. p.
4794), an adult female was caught exhausted on a
trawler off Plymouth, taken alive to Rogers, a
birdstuffer, and sent by Gatcombe to Mr. J. H.
Gurney. In February, 1869, “ one of these fine
birds was shot near Berry Head,” writes Baron A.
von Hiigel (Zool. 1869. p. 1720). In 1874, we find
Gatcombe writing ; ‘‘ After an almost entire absence
for many years, 1am glad to say that the Greater
Shearwater, or “ hackbolt,” has again visited the
coasts of Devon and Cornwall in some numbers, as
I had the pleasure of examining three specimens,
in the flesh, obtained off Plymouth on the 6th of
November, and the next day two more, out of four
that were captured off Penzance”’ (Zool. 1874. p.
4262). A month later he writes; ‘‘Since my
recent note on the occurrence of the Greater
Shearwater off the Coasts of Devon and Cornwall,
I have been informed that, the gentleman who shot
two or three from his yacht, and brought them to
Plymouth for the purpose of having their skins
made into screens, said that off the Start Point,
there were hundreds of them, and that he could
have killed any number had he only known they
were at all rare or of any value whatever. Although
I have made every inquiry, on account of the many
letters I have received from ornithological friends
residing in various parts of the Country, begging
me to secure specimens for their collections, yet I
can not learn of any more having been since

184 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.

obtained either on the Devon or Cornish coasts ”
(Zool. 1875. p. 4800). In 1876, Gatecombe records
another Greater Shearwater, killed off Plymouth at
the end of July, adding; ‘‘It is a very fine adult
bird, with the underparts much whiter, or apparently
much more bleached than they are just after the
autumnal moult, with scarcely a shade remaining of
the dusky patch on the belly, so conspicuous on
the birds generally obtained at the beginning of
winter. I understand there were no others with it
when shot ” (Zool. 1876. p. 5127). A specimen of
the Greater Shearwater, in the collection of the
Rev. M. A. Mathew was shot on the Devonshire
coast and obtained through Mr. Gatcombe. There
are apparently no records of this bird from the
North Coast of the County.

SOOTY SHEARWATER.—Puffiinus griseus (Gmel).

A rare visitant. Mr. Dresser figures this species
in the ‘Birds of Europe,’ from an example from
Plymouth, previously in Mr Gould’s collection, of
which he furnishes measurements. He also states ;
“Mr Gatcombe says that itis met with off Plymouth,
and that a friend of his possesses two specimens ”
(Bayon Hurope, VII p. 324). On) former
occasions” writes Mr. Gatcombe in 1874, ‘‘ when
the autumnal visits of this species [the Greater
Shearwater] were more frequent, many young
birds in their first dark plumage (similar to one of

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 185

Yarrell’s figures) were obtained, but as yet I have
not heard of any in that stage having been taken ”’
(Zool. 1874. p. 4262). The description ‘‘ dark” is
italicised by Gatcombe himself, and as the dark
bird figured by Yarrell proved eventually to be a
Sooty Shearwater, though at the time supposed to
be a young Greater Shearwater, it is clear that the
‘young ” birds mentioned by Gatcombe were also,
specimens of the Sooty Shearwater. In justice to
Gatcombe, it may be well to point out that, in
regarding the Sooty Shearwater as the young of
the Greater Shearwater, he was only following the
then accepted belief of the most competent
authorities. His more recent information to
Mr. Dresser was of course made after the
distinction between the two species had become
generally known.

MANX SHEARWATER.—Pufjinus anglorum (Temm).

AN AuTUMN and spring visitant, sometimes present
in large numbers off the South Coast of Devon, as
in March, 1877, when Gatcombe says that
‘‘hundreds’’ were to be seen in the Channel off
Plymouth. ‘* They breed on Lundy Island ” writes
Dr. Moore in 1837 (Mag. Nat. Hist. p. 362); an
expression of opinion which has never been confirmed
though Mr. Howard Saunders in 1885, suggested
that, ‘‘a few may perhaps inhabit Lundy Island, in
the Bristol Channel, where the bird is well known

186 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE.
under the name of ‘Cuckle’ (Yarrell. B.B. IV. p. 22).

Mr. Rawson dissents from this view, but thinks
that a breeding colony may possibly be discovered
on the North Coast of Devon. Attention has been
drawn to what apparently must be considered a
dimorphic variation in colour of this Shearwater ;
regarding which the Rev. M. A. Mathew writes;
“ Mr. Vaughan Davies of Skomer Island informed
me that the young Manx Shearwaters resembled
the adults in having white underparts, as you have
reported in this month’s Zoologist. Every autumn
there are great numbers of the Manx Shearwater
in Torbay, and some years since I shot several
birds which had all the underparts a dark ash-gray.
At the time we endeavoured to make out that these
were Sooty Petrels, but they were unquestionably
only young Manx Shearwaters ”(¢7 lit. Oct. 80. 1886).

FORK-TAILED PETREL,—Oceanodromi leucorrhoa (Vieill)

AN OCCASIONAL, perhaps rare visitant, chiefly during
stormy weather during the last two months of the
year, when exhausted birds are occasionally found
on the North and South coasts of the County.
Mr. Brooking Rowe mentions a bird caught in the
middle of the town of Plymouth (Zool. 1866. p.
102). Mr. G. F. Mathew picked up another, dead
on Braunton Burrows; Mr. H. Nicholls has two
local specimens from the Kingsbridge district.

THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 187
STORM PETREL.—Procellaria pelagica, Linn.

AN OCCASIONAL visitant, chiefly noticed in boisterous
weather during winter. The Rev. M. A. Mathew
writes that this species nests upon Lundy Island,
where Mr. Rawson has met with the bird in the
month of June. Even on the South Coast,
stragelers sometimes occur during the breeding
season. Mr. Gatcombe records that a Herring Gull
knocked down a Storm Petrel in the Docks at
Plymouth, on the 22nd of June, 1883 ; as also, the
capture of several exhausted birds in Plymouth
Sound, on the 16th of August, 1876. In October
of the former year, he examined a very young
specimen, still shewing some of the nestling down,
though captured by a cat in a garden in the centre
of Plymouth. I have a specimen in my collection
which was shot at Topsham, October 16th, 1886.

ADDENDUM.

MEALY REDPOLL.—Zinota linaria (Linn).

THIS SPECIES proves, unexpectedly, to have been
taken in Devon, though apparently unrecorded
hitherto. The Rev. M. A. Mathew writes to say
that among some birds which he purchased at the
sale of Mr. Cecil Smith’s collection, he acquired a
Mealy Redpoll in full adult plumage, labelled
‘North Devon.” He adds that this is the only
Devonshire specimen of Linota linaria that he has
ever seen.

INDEX.

ALPINE ACCENTOR ... al
Witt... ae 57
American Bittern on 92
ne Stint eee eles

3 Wigeon ... = 103
Arctic Skua_... rr 169
eelern — ... elo
Auk, Little... Sep wel
Avocet » Go HBS
BAILLON’S CRAKE... ~=121
Barn Owl oe ee eoG
Barnacle Goose =e 97
Bar-tailed Godwit so
Bean Goose... Ps 96
Bearded Titmouse... 23
Bee-eater ae ai: 63
Bewick’s Swan — 99
Bittern ae ne 91
a American oe 92

es Little ... ne 89
Blackbird ose oe 3
Blackcap MA ane 16
Black Grouse ... ws, 115
5, Guillemot Sones al
Black-headed Gull ... 161
Black Redstart Nie ff
SDOrK = 93
Black-tailed Godwit ... 155
Black Tern _... 156
Black-throated Diver . 175
Black-winged Stilt .... 185
Blue-headed Yellow Wagtail 28
Blue Titmouse 24

Bluethroat, Red- -spotted 13
Bonaparte’s Sandpiper 144

Brambling Ek a 43
Brent Goose Sen ; 96
British Coal T ifmouse. 24

» Long-tailed Titmouse 24
Buff-backed Heron ... 88

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Baffon’s Skua...
Bullfineh
Bunting, Corn
Bunting, Cirl

- Reed
. Snow
e Yellow
Bustard, Great
x Little
Buzzard €
4 Honey se
55 Rough-legged

CASPIAN TERN
Chaftinch
Chiffchafft

Chough

Cir] Bunting
Collared Pratincole
Common Gull

es Sandpiper
3 Scoter
Bs Snipe
ms Tern
Wren
Coot
Cor morant

Corn Bunting
Crake, Baillon’s

3) Corn

jy Lattles<:.

» Spotted
Crane ...

Cream- éaloured Gourer

Creeper, Tree ...
Crested Titmouse
Crossbill

<; Parrot

yD White-w inged

Crow, Carrion .

Or ee He dO OO
Co So OL Or Or @ ¢

190

Crow Hooded

Cuckoo

Curlew ae
» Sandpiper

OLOME I.

DARTFORD WARBLER ...

Dipper

Diver, Black- donned

Gr eat Northern
,, Red-throated
Dotterel
Dove, Ring
Roek
Stock
ee lemrble
Duck, Eider ...
Long- tailed
Sheld
MM iibede sce
,, White-eyed
Dunlin aoe

)

be)

9

EAGLE Owl
x Sea
Eared Grebe
Keret, Little
Rider Duck
Hider, King

FALCON, PEREGRINE ...

a Red-footed
Fieldfare ,
Fire-crested Wren
Flycatcher, Pied

- Spotted
Fork-tailed Petrel
Fulmar .

GADWALL

Gannet

Garden War nile
Garganey

Glaucous Gull ..
Glossy Ibis :
Godwit, Bar-tailed
Black-tailed

3)

INDEX.

Golden-crested Wren ...
Goldeneye
Goldfinch 0
Golden Oriole ...

se eelloveriee:
Goosander
Goose, Barnacle

> bean

» Brent

Sy aey, lac
Red-breasted ...

» White-fronted ...
Grasshopper Warbler .
Great Black Woodpecker

» Bustard ,

,, Orested Grebe .
Grey Shrike

5, Northern Diver
Great Shearwater

» Skua

Seouupe

99

9

, Titmou:e
Grebe, Eared .

» Great Crested .

ay Battles.

», Red-necked

5 sclavonian
Greenfinch
Greenshank
Green Sandpiper
Green-winged Teal

5» Woodpecker
Grey Lag Goose

», Phalarope

» Plover

» Wagtail .

Grouse, Black ee
, Palla’s Shad).
Guillemot e

Black
Gull- billed Tern
», Black Headed
» Common
», Glaucous
» Great Black- backed
headed

29 ”? 9?

Spotted Woodpecker

Gull, Herring
», Iceland
3) vor

», Lesser Black- backed
” Little
»» Sabine’s

Harrier, Hen
Marsh
- Montagu’s ..
Hawfinch
Hawk, Sparrow
Hedge Sparrow
Heron ... oe
», Buff-backed
» Night
» Purple
4» sSquacco
Herring Gull ...
Hobby... :
Honey Buzzard.
Hooded Crow ..
Hoopoe
House Sparrow

LBISHGMOSSY: ...
Iceland Gull
Ivory Gull

JACKDAW
Jack Snipe
Jay

KENTISH POLVER
Kestrel
King Eider
Kingfisher
Kite
Kittiwake

Knot

LAPWING
Lark, Shore
» Sky
= Wood...
Lesser Black-backed Gull
5 Grey Shrike
» Redpoll... es

INDEX.

162
165
166
163
160
159

69
69
71

D6
163
By)
44

191.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 59
5, Whitethroat 1145)
Linnet 43
Little Auk 7G
ee slubern cs. 89

,, Bustard.. 126

», Crake WPA

» Lgret 87

» Grebe 181

*. Gull 160
Owl 68

» stint 146
Tern 159
Long: eared Onl 66
Long-tailed Duck 106
Pe Skua 169
MAGPIE 53
Mallard 99
Manx Shearwater 185
Marsh Harrier 69
s Titmouse 24
Martin... 38
> sand 38
Meadow Pipit ... 30
Mealy Redpoll — see addendum
Merganser, Red-breasted 110
Merlin .. 81
Missel ‘Phrush 2 1
Montagu’s Harrier al
Moorhen 122
Mute Swan 98
Nicut HrRon 90
Nightingale 14
Nightjar 58
Nutcracker 52
Nuthatch 25
ORIOLE, GOLDEN 33
Osprey 82
Ouzel, Ring 3
Owl, Barn 66
», Eagle 68
” Little 68
5, Long-eared 66
», short-eared 66

192

Owl, Snowy
3 Lawny
Oystercatcher ...

PALLA’S SAND GROUSE
Parrot Crossbill
Partridge :
ey euRed= lege ed
Pectoral Sandpiper
Peregrine Falcon
Petrel, Fork-tailed
pe OLOLUM a «
Phalarope, Grey
Bs Red- necked.
Pheasant - :
Pied Flycatcher.
» Waetail
Pintail a,
Pipit, } Meadow
as Richard’s
Pipit, Rock
ae * aL ree
» Water
Plover, Golden
Grey
Kentish
» Ringed
Pochard a8 oe
a Red-crested ...
Pomatorhine Skua
Pratincole, Collared
Puttin see Ne
Purple Heron ...
Sandpiper

99

9

be
QUAIL

Rait, WATER...
Raven ...
Razorbill a
Red-backed Slime
Redbreast
Red-breasted Goose
a Snipe
Rede crested Pochard .
Red-footed Falcon

Merganser

INDEX.

67
67
134

115
45
118
118
144
79
186
187
136
136
LAL Zs
37
atl
101
30
30
32
30)
32
132
133
53)
133
104
104
168
128
172
87
148

119

122
54
170
dd

2
vo

97
110
143
103

82

Red-legged Partridge... 118

Red-necked Grebe... 07
es », Phalarope 136
tedshank he soa) eteye

x pute came lie

Redstart . ; 6

* Blac ia 7

Red-spotted Bluethroat 13

Red-throated Diver 175

Redpoll, Lesser 44

BS Mealy See Aen
tedwing oe Le 2
Reed Bunting ... oe 48
5, Warbler ¥ 20

Richard’s Pipit xe 30

Richardson’s Skua__.... 169

Ring Dove ... reiee | aaa

ee Ouzeleaece Ae 3

Ringed Plover ce malt

Rock Dove _... as 12
he LEO cot ie 32

Roller .. a et 63

Rook S00 6 D4

Rose-coloured Starling 50

Rough-legged Buzzard 74

Rut : Le 150

Rufous Warbler: Ss 19

SABINE’S GULL ee 159

Sanderling sae ae 150

Sand Martin ae ' 38

Sandpiper, Bonaparte’s S 144
rf Buff-breasted eye

“ Common ... 151

nf Curlew <a aS

. Green ces eto

3 Pectoral) 5. 14

» eurple .. 148
Wood see, aD?
Sandwich Tern ree NS
Scaup ... seo LOS
Sclavonian Grebe ree lS
Scoter, Common aie 107
Se lea Be woos AOS
» Velvet ... c= 108
Sea Eagle fe sss 75
Sedge Warbler i 20

Shag oe
Shearwater, Great
Manx
Sooty

*

s
Sheld Duck
Shore Lark...
Short-eared Owl
Shoveller ee
Shrike, Great Grey

», Lesser Grey
» Red-backed
Siskin ... nae ae
Skua, Arctic or Richard-
son’s ee Ser
Skua, Buffon’s or Long-
tailed
Skua, Great
», Pomatorhine
Sky Lark
Smew ee
Snipe, Common
a Great
ym dack
», Red-breasted
Snow Bunting...
Snowy Owl
Song Thrush
Sooty Shearwater
Sparrow Hawk

Hedge
House
FS Tree
Spoonbill

Spotted Crake

yy Flycatcher

3 tedshank
Squacco Heron
Starling * ae

e Rose-coloured
Stilt, Black-winged
Stint, American

Ae Little

» lemminck’s
Stock Dove
Stonechat
Stone Curlew
Stork, Black

INDEX. 193
85 | Stork, White 93
182 Storm Petrel 187
185 Swallow 37
18+ | Swan, Bewick’s 99
a) » Mute 98
56 5» Whooper 98
66 Swift 57
100 SOA DINe wees 57
Oe
35 | Tawny OWL 67
35. | Teal ron 101
40 », Green-winged 102
Temminck’s Stint 146
169 Mere ATCC aes: 159
| » Black 156
169 » Caspian 158
167 » Common 159
168 » Gull-billed 158
56 » Little 159
110 » Sandwich 158
142 » Whiskered 157
141 » White-winged
143 Black 157
143 Thrush, Missel 1
49 » song 1
67 ,5 White’s 2
1 Titmouse, Bearded 23
184 3 Blue 24
76 “6 Coal mae 24.
21 A British Long-
41 tailed 24
42 “A Crested PAS
94 FS Great 24
120 M Marsh 42
37 Tree Creeper 38
152 op eecitoyhe 30
88 55 Sparrow 42
49 Tufted Duck 104
HO Turnstone 134
1335) Turtle Dove eS
147 Twite ... 44.
146
146 VELVET SCOTER 108
111 Wagetail, Blue-headed Yellow 28
6 Pe Grey 28
128 - Pied PH
93 re White 27

194 INDEX.

Waetail, Yellow ie 29

Warbler, Dartford ... 16
53 Garden cae 16

»» Grasshopper ... 20

5 Reed ee 20

5 Rufous a 19

» Sedge wes 20
Water Pipit ... ae 2
SMAI Reet geile
Waxwing ae aa 36
Wheatear oy - 5
Whimbrel © ... a 156
Whinchat aes ae 6
Whiskered Tern ae
White-eyed Duck .... 104
White-fronted Goose ... 96
White’s Thrush 8 2
Whitethroat ... Sate 15
3 Lesser... 1L5)
White Stork ... 93

White-winged Black Tern 157

White-winged Crossbill

Whooper Swan

Wigeon :
$3 American

Woodchat

Woodeock

Wood Lark

Woodpecker, Great Black
$i Great Spotted

; Green

46
93
103
103

59
60

9 Lesser Spotted 59

Wood Sandpiper
Wren

» Fire- peed

», Golden-crested

», Willow ...
», Wood
Wryneck

YELLOW BUNTING
» Wagtail

152

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