RED-FOOTED FALCON. 367 



Moors adjoming, it nests regularly, but, as it figures in the 

 keeper's vermin list, it is not allowed to remain unmolested. 

 Between 1881 and 1890 sixteen nests with eggs or young 

 were destroyed, and forty-four old birds were killed, the 

 majority captured by that cruel abomination, the pole-trap. 

 It may be mentioned that in most of these exposed locahties 

 its numbers were materially reduced by the instrument named, 

 now forbidden by statute. (For details as to the persecution 

 to which the poor birds are subject, see Nat. 1892, p. 320.) 



It is occasionally observed as an immigrant in autumn 

 at the coast ; I have noted it at the Teesmouth in October, 

 and on one occasion witnessed a newly arrived Merlin in full 

 flight after a Dunlin. In the Humber district it usually 

 appears during the first fortnight in October. 



In inland districts it is more frequently observed in the 

 autumn and winter months, when it is not so local, and 

 instead of being confined to the moorlands descends from these 

 elevated localities and visits the more enclosed country, and 

 occasionally the close proximity of large towns. At this 

 season it is met with quite commonly in the " Carrs " of 

 east Yorkshire, where it is sometimes noticed chasing the 

 Skylarks. 



Local names are : — Little Blue Hawk, in general use ; 

 Little Hawk, in east Cleveland ; Little Blue Pigeon-Hawk, 

 at Wakefield ; Stone Falcon, in north-west Yorkshire ; while 

 Rock Hawk and Stone Hawk are given by Swainson as north 

 country names. 



RED-FOOTED FALCON 

 Falco vespertinus (Z.). 



Accidental visitant, from southern and eastern Europe, of extremely 

 rare occurrence. 



In the year 1830 this species, which appears to have been 

 to this date an entire stranger to Britain, occurred almost 

 simultaneously in this county and in Norfolk. The first of 

 these occurrences took place in our coimty in the month of 



