228 Climbing and Gallinaceous Birds of Devonshire. 



ing on the want of attention to the preservation of the red 

 deer, in consequence of the decline of the hunt, equally 

 operates against the heath fowl, and will probably lead to the 

 latter becoming ultimately as scarce as the bustard. 



The stock-dove is often seen in large flocks in the woods 

 in winter. The rock-dove also occurs in flocks, sometimes, 

 in winter, 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 build are more precipitous, and afford 

 greater facility for nesting: but Lundy Island is the chief 

 resort of this bird at that period, ,, fl si bun j&ridt 9dJ 



./.am 

 Order III. SCANSCTRES. 

 Gen. Pi v cus. 



1. Picus viridis, Green woodpecker. Common all the year. 

 tp 3J| 2. Picus major, Greater spotted woodpecker. Frequent. 



3. Picus minor, Lesser spotted woodpecker. Not so common as the 

 last. Specimens in my collection ; also at Drew's and Bolitho's. 

 Gen. Yu'nx. 



1. Yunx Torquilla, Wryneck. Rather scarce near Plymouth; more 

 plentiful near Dawlish, where they breed, as I am informed by 

 Mr. Comyns of Mount Pleasant, who has specimens. 

 Gen. CVculus. 



1. Cuculus canorus, Cuckoo. Common, from April to July. 



Order IV. GALLIC. 

 Gen. Te'trao. 



1. Tetrao Tetrix, Black grouse. This is the only Devonshire species 

 of grouse. They were formerly abundant on the borders of Dart- 

 moor and Exmoor; but the increase of population and cultiva- 

 tion has diminished their range. Specimens are still, however, 

 often procured. I have purchased both the male and female 

 in Plymouth market ; Sir G. Magrath, Drew, and Pincombe 

 Jiecffti l)bave specimens, q ni &in 2rtoii6VT98(lo jjtifwolkfl m T 



Montagu states that Lord Caernarvon endeavoured to pro- 

 duce, but unsuccessfully, hybrids between the heath grouse 

 and pheasant : that such, however, does occur, is verified by 

 the fact that, in September, 1829, one of this kind was shot 

 at Whidey, near Plymouth, by the Rev. Mr. Morshead. A 

 male pheasant, female grouse, and one young, had been ob- 

 served in company for some time by the keeper. Mr. Mors- 

 head shot the pheasant, and, in a few days, the young hybrid ; 

 but the grouse escaped. The young bird bears the marks of 

 both parents, but the most prominent characters are those of 

 the grouse. The space above the eye, however, is not bare, 

 as in the grouse, but entirely feathered, as in the pheasant ; 

 the whole of the neck is covered with black feathers, some- 

 what mottled ; the tail is not forked, but fan-shaped, and half 



as long as that of the pheasant; the tarsi are bare, as in the 

 mtj cJrid'ntsgrrfilife ■[ I dIijoj wonni 



