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THE BIRDS OF COOKHAM AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD. 125 
Sub-fam. BureoNInz. 
Buteo. 
3. Buteo vulgaris. Common Buzzard. 
A very fine male of this species was shot-at Hollyport in 1862, 
and was sent to Mr. Briggs for preservation. The way in which 
it was captured was rather curious. A man named Wells was 
trying to shoot some woodpigeons, and had placedon the ground 
alittle distance off a stuffed bird for a decoy. He had not waited 
long before the above mentioned Buzzard swept down and was 
carrying off the stuffed bird, when he shot it. 
Sub-fam. MiLvinz. 
Milvus. 
4. Milvus regalis. Kite. 
This bird is now of very rare occurrence in England, and it is 
hard to imagine the former abundance of the species. A friend 
of mine informs me that about six or seven years ago a specimen 
was captured on the roof of a large warehouse in London, and 
lived for some time in confinement, and in the Zoological Gardens 
there is a Kite, presented by Howard Saunders, Esq., of Reigate, 
which was taken in England, being one of three nestlings he had 
received. With regard to its appearance at Cookham instances 
are wanting of late years, but in the memory of several of the 
inhabitants, the Kite used to be quite a common bird at Pinkney’s 
Green, an unenclosed heath about four miles distant. 
Sub-fam. FALcoNINz. 
Hypotriorchis. 
5. Hypotriorchis subbuteo. The Hobby. 
The Formosa collection contains a beautiful male Hobby shot 
at Cliefden in 1860, and we have also occasionally observed it 
sailing over the woods in the neighbourhood. The courage of 
this pretty little Hawk has always been a favourite theme both 
with naturalists, and the lovers of Falconry, and I am able to 
give a striking instance of its pluck which came under Mr. 
Briggs’ own observation, when at Bulling Bare. He had found 
a nest of this species in one of the plantations on the estate, and 
only waited till the young ones were fledged, to take them. 
