247 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



Continued from page 208. 



ORDER GRALLdE. (Division 2nd, Water Birds. 



Genus, Ardea, Heron, &c. 



Sp. 86. A. major, common Heron, or " Hern ; " plen- 

 tiful on the banks of the Tamar, especially 

 about Warleigh, where a Heronry is establish- 

 ed. It is also seen on the Lara and Yealm, 

 and visits the fish ponds. 



The Bittern is a scarce bird in this county ; 

 it and many other species of this family are 

 mentioned by Dr. Moore as incidental visitants 

 of these parts. The Spoonbill, (Platalea) Ibis, 

 (Tantalus) and Avoset (Recurvirostra) must 

 be regarded in the same light. 



Genus, Sclopax, Snipe, Godwit, &c. 



Sp. 87. Sc. arquata, Curlew ; frequent in the same 

 places as the Heron. During Summer I have 

 found curlews on the moor, frequenting marshy 

 spots, and passing also from the summit of one 

 tor to that of another. 



The Whimbrel may be considered as an un- 

 certain winter visitor. 



Sp. 88. Sc. rusticola, Woodcock ; common in winter. 

 Some few, perhaps, breed with us on the moors. 



Sp. 89. Sc. gallinago, Snipe ; with the last : some un- 

 doubtedly breed here. Called by some in this 

 county "Suite/' and " Hither-blitter." 



Sp. 90. Sc. gallinula, Jack-Snipe ; common as the last. 



Sp. 9L Sc. agocephala, Godwit; occasionally obtained 

 and in flocks at the mouths of the rivers. My 

 own specimens were shot from a covey in their 

 full and elegant plumage, parading the sand- 

 banks of the Lara, on the 10th of May, 1831. 

 They flew but a short way off after having been 

 fired at. My two specimens correspond well with 

 Bewick's plates of the common and red Godwits, 

 which I am inclined to consider as correct deli- 



