428 Ornithology of Blackburn 



It is now about forty years since the last of the red deer, 

 which formerly roamed at will in these parts, was destroyed ; 

 the increase of population, and the enclosure of the lower 

 mountain districts, rendering their existence incompatible 

 with agricultural pursuits. The forest laws, at no very dis- 

 tant date enforced with great severity, are now in a great mea- 

 sure suspended or forgotten. At Brewsholme Hall, the resi- 

 dence of the bough-bearer, is still kept an iron stirrup or ring; 

 all dogs that could not pass through which ring, were de- 

 stroyed, in order to ensure the safety of the deer. 



Having been somewhat diffuse on the topography of these 

 parts, a few words will suffice on their geological formations. 

 At the termination of the coal measures, to the north and 

 west of Blackburn, the red sand stone commences, and con- 

 tinues following the coast line up to Lancaster. Once more 

 taking the great north road as a centre, to the left the forma- 

 tion is entirely red sand-stone ; to the right is a large district of 

 millstone grit and limestone shale, till we pass high up the 

 mountains, where we meet with the carboniferous or mountain 

 limestone. On the northern extremity of Morecambe Bay lies 

 the isle of Walney, which, with a narrow strip of the mainland, 

 is composed of the old red sandstone ; this is succeeded by 

 the mountain limestone, — The forest of Bowland is compo- 

 sed partly of millstone grit and partly of mountain limestone. 

 Near Clitheroe the limestone district commences ; close to 

 that town are extensive lime-kilns, whence all the immediate 

 neighbourhood of Blackburn is supplied with lime. 



About three and a half miles west from Blackburn, on the 

 millstone grit and limestone shale formation, is situated, in a 

 romantic and well-wooded glen, an immense mass of rock 

 called the ' Alum Rock,' or * Scarr.' At this spot extensive 

 alum-works were carried on for many years, but were aban- 

 doned about forty years ago, not from any unproductiveness 

 in the soil, but simply from the fact that the receipts barely 

 covered the outlay. 



In the arrangement of the following list of birds, I have a- 

 dopted that of Mr. Ey ton's published Catalogue ; and I am 

 the more readily induced to do so, as it has already been fol- 

 lowed in your Magazine by Dr. Moore, of Plymouth. 



Order I.—ACCIPITRES. 



Division i. — Diurnee. 



Gen. Falco. — Sub-gen. 1. Falco. 



1 . Falco peregrinus. Peregrine Falcon. This bird is very rare, though 

 I possess two specimens, one caught in a trap in the Forest of Bow- 

 land, several years since ; and a second shot near Preston, in the 

 winter of 1836-7. 



