INTRODUCTION. xiii 



in Devon, nud the results are interesting. His original query, 

 regarding the existence of the Cornish Chough in Devon, resulted 

 in the acquisition of such information as the following : " The 

 Cornish Chough (says a gentleman of Barnstaple) is seen in the 

 Northern coasts of Devon (in lit). In 1790, a Cornish Chough 

 was shot at the sea-side by a son of Captain Gidoin of Modbury. 

 " I saw the remains of this bird (says Mr. Perring) after it had 

 been torn in pieces by a tame hawk. Never having seen a 

 Chough, I kept its bill, it was longer than that of the Common 

 Chough or Jackdaw, sharper, and of a very bright red colour." 

 " I have seen (says Mr. Elford) the Cornish Chough near 

 Plymouth :" and Mr. Yonge of Puflinch, observes that " Cornish 

 Choughs are often observed on the hills along the coast in the 

 western part of the county, distinguished by their different note, 

 and in pairs like the common Carrion Crow." 



1800-1815. The next writer to deal with the Birds of Devonshire 

 was the well-known Colonel Montagu. His ornithological 

 dictionary was not in any sense written as a local fauna, and 

 though it contained many references to Devon, he would have no 

 doubt resented any suggestion of local colouring, since he justly 

 claimed to be cosmopolitan. Of this work, published in 1802, he 

 remarks : " The following sheets have been entirely drawn from 

 our own observations, and compiled from the notes of twenty 

 years search and attention to the habits of this beautiful part of 

 the creation, in most parts of this kingdom " (Introduction, p. 

 XLI). He had already read a paper before the Linnean Society, 

 i.e. on March 1st, ITDG. On the 20th of December, 1803, a 

 second paper followed, referring to the Cirl Bunting and Dartford 

 Warbler, and on the oth of May, 1807, he read a paper on the 

 plumage of the Hen Harrier. His enthusiasm remained unabated, 

 and induced him to pubhsh a supplement to the ornithological 

 Dictionary in 1813, in which he wiote : " We have continued our 

 observations upon the characters and habits of British Birds, 

 with the usual ardour and indefatigable research, the result of 



