10 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



been known at different times to frequent the spire of 

 Norwich Cathedral, and accordmg to the above-mentioned 

 author (vol. i. p. 63), a Mr. Kittle, of this city, j)ar- 

 ticularly noticed a bird of this species, which " arrived 

 at the Cathedral by the middle of September, and left it 

 about the first week in March, and continued to do so 

 for eight successive years ; he also remarked that it was 

 generally to be seen near the top of the spire, and 

 invariably on that side which by sailors is called the 

 leeward, from whence it used to fly at pigeons and 

 other birds who were so unfortunate as to approach its 

 station. From the number of feathers found in the 

 tower of the Cathedral, he supposed that after it had 

 taken its prey it used to retire to that part to eat it 

 free from molestation." More recently a female, who 

 with her mate frequented the same spot, was shot whilst 

 chasing a pigeon on one of the bridges. Mr. Lubbock 

 also states, that ^^ during the time the late Mr. Downes 

 practised falconry near Yarmouth a pair of these birds 

 used to breed in the stee]3le of Corton church. The 

 nestlings were taken and trained to the chase, the clerk 

 having a regular retaining fee for their preservation." 

 The occurrence of three adult specimens, two males and 

 one female, near Thetford, in the spring of 1848, is 

 noticed in the "Zoologist," p. 2134; in the following 

 spring, a very fine pair, in perfect plumage, were killed 

 near the same place, and one or more old birds are still 

 seen there every year, usually in the month of March, 

 the adjacent warren having peculiar attractions. A fine 

 adult female, now in my possession, was killed at Rock- 

 land in March, 1858 ; and two others, in equally good 

 plumage, were taken in April, 1859, at Fransham and 

 Woodbastwick. The autumn of 1859 was remarkable 

 for the unusual number of these birds that appeared 

 on our coast ; but out of eight or ten which came under 

 my notice at that time, none had attained more than 



