2 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



only can fairly be classed as familiar in our own 

 country. 



The Spotted Eagle owes its place to a few 

 occurrences only. Of the Greenland and Iceland 

 Falcons, a specimen, usually immature, drifts occa- 

 sionally southwards to these islands, but the records 

 are comparatively rare. Of the Red-footed Falcon 

 about twenty occurrences since 1830 are noted. The 

 Goshawk is now extremely rare, and has probably 

 always been so ; for many of the early references 

 to this bird apply equally well to the Peregrine 

 Falcon — in many places, indeed, the name Goose- 

 hawk is still applied to the Peregrine. The 

 Harriers, which were at one time fairly plentiful, 

 have now largely disappeared; and of the Buzzards, 

 one alone can be described as being fairly well 

 known. 



The Red Kite was once widely distributed in 

 England, and was so common even in London, that 

 the Bohemian Schaschek, writing in 1461, regarded 

 it as one of the features of the British Metropolis. 

 Speaking of London Bridge, he remarks, " No- 

 where have I seen so great a number of Kites as 

 there;" and it is clear from other sources that 

 this Kite was constantly met with in the London 

 streets, acting as a most useful scavenger. Now it 

 may be said to be almost on the verge of extinction. 



The inclusion of the Black Kite rests upon one 

 occurrence in 1866, and that of the Swallow-tailed 

 Kite upon four or five, mostly doubtful. 



The Hobby, again, can hardly be classed as a 

 familiar English bird. As the Sparrow-hawk fol- 

 lows the Goshawk in formation, so the Hobby 



