and the North of Lancashire. 4*29 



2. Falco Msalon. Merlin. This bird is far from being uncommon ; 



two or three specimens generally coming under my observation 

 every year. 



3. Falco Tinnunculus. Kestrel. This is the most common species of 



hawk with us, and is especially abundant. I seldom take a walk 

 of a few miles into the country, but I meet with a few specimens 

 hovering in the air in their peculiar style. A fact connected with 

 the natural history of this bird, I have several times had an op- 

 portunity of verifying ; which is, that it never preys on the star- 

 ling. In the fissures and crevices of the Alum Scar vast numbers 

 of starlings build their nests and rear their young, totally regard- 

 less of several pairs of kestrels, their neighbours, which likewise 

 build their nests and rear their young in the crevices of the same 

 rock. I have at different times lain concealed with my gun, in 

 order to get a shot at the kestrels, but so situated that I could 

 command a full view of the face of the cliff. The starlings would 

 pass in and out, chattering, whistling, and screaming or croaking, 

 taking no notice whatever of the kestrels, which would issue from 

 holes, I am sure not ten yards from the habitat of the starlings, 

 whom they never appeared to molest, there being a perfectly good 

 understanding established between them ; but the moment one of 

 the sparrow-hawks (which build in the trees in the woods below) 

 came in sight, there would be a general shriek of alarm, and the 

 poor starlings, in a state of the greatest agitation, would hurry for 

 shelter to their holes and crevices in the rock. 

 Gen. Astur. 



4. Astur Palumbarius. Goshawk. Very rare, though shot or caught 



occasionally in the Forest of Bowland. A relative of my own has 

 a beautiful pair, male and female, caught in a trap there a few 

 years since. 

 Gen. Accipiter. 



5. Accipiter fringillarius. Sparrow-hawk. Very common, and next 



in frequency to the kestrel. It is singular how diversified is the 

 plumage of this bird ; amongst numerous specimens I have sel- 

 dom found two alike. 

 Gen. Milvus. 



6. Milvus regalis. Kite. I have never been able to meet with this 



bird, though I have occasionally heard of one having been shot 

 in this neighbourhood. 

 Gen. Buteo. 



7. Buteo vulgaris. Common Buzzard. Very rare, though a speci- 



men or two has been shot in the mountains east of Blackburn. 

 Gen. Circus. 



8. Circus Pygargus. Hen Harrier. Equally rare with the two latter 



genera. I have a beautiful specimen of the male, shot in the 

 neighbourhood of Lancaster. 



Division ii. — Nocturnes. 



Gen. Strix. — Sub-gen. 1. Otus. 



9. Otus vulgaris. Long-eared Owl. Very rare. I have one specimen 



shot near Preston last winter. 



10. Otus brachyotus. Short-eared Owl. Rather more plentiful than 

 the preceding, at least specimens are more frequently met with ; 

 still the bird is very rare. I possess a splendid specimen of the 

 female, caught in one of the streets in Manchester ; with this ex- 



