344 THE BIRDS OF YORKSHIRE. 



continued its flight, and the Owl, likewise little worse, rose 

 and flew off before it could be picked up (Carter MS.). 



In the collection of Mr. A, Clapham of Scarborough are 

 many interesting varieties of the Sparrowhawk, thirty of 

 which were obtained in Yorkshire. 



A nest, containing the unusual number of seven eggs, was 

 taken near York on 21st May 1896. 



In Cleveland it was formerly considered to be equally lucky 

 to find either a dead Hawk, Raven, Owl, or Carrion Crow. 



The old name for this Hawk, used by Falconers, was 

 Musket ; vernacular names are Pigeon Hawk and Blue Hawk, 

 in general use ; Gold Tip at Sedbergh, and Stannin (Standing) 

 Hawk at Halifax. 



KITE. 



Milvus ictinus (Savi'gny). 



Casual visitant, of very rare occurrence. Formerly nested in the 

 county. 



Historically, the earliest Yorkshire allusion to the Kite 

 is contained in the " Gentleman's Magazine " (1747, p. 23), 

 where it is mentioned by George Stovin, under date of 31st 

 August 1727, as a native of the country about Hatfield Chase. 



Thomas Allis, 1844, wrote : — 



Milvus vulgaris. — The Kite — About twenty years ago one was 

 caught in a trap at Edlington Wood, near Doncaster, and a pair of 

 young taken from the nest, by H. Reid of Doncaster ; none have been 

 seen there since. One was obtained at Hornsea [Horsecar] Wood 

 in 1833, and another in Lunn Wood in 1844, both near Barnsley, by 

 Dr. Farrar ; and it is of very rare occurrence in the neighbourhood of 

 Halifax. I have no notice of its being found in the North or East 

 Riding. It has been observed by C. Waterton (see Yarrell's " British 

 Birds ") very near Huddersfield. W. Eddison has seen one specimen 

 shot near Penistone. 



There can be no doubt that this fine bird formerly bred 

 in our coimty, but the necessarily old information on this 

 point is difficult to procure, or at least I have not been fortunate 



