INTRODUCTION. ix 



TI.—FAUNLSTIC CHANGES. 



Of the faunistic changes that have takeu place in the last 

 hundred years, the most unfortunate is the destruction of the 

 birds of prey. The Marsh Harrier, once happily numeious, has 

 been improved away, the Hen Harrier is all but tra];)ped out, 

 and even the beautiful Montagu's Harrier maintains its footing 

 as a l)rteding bird with diflficnlty. The Kite was never numerous, 

 but it has received harsh treatment, while the Peregrine and 

 Common Buzzard meet with scanty consideration. Eavens tijo 

 are scarcer than formerly, and the selfish greed of undiscriminating 

 collectors has well nigh banished the Chough from the precipices of 

 North Devon. The Rock-dove and Goldfinch have likewise 

 become rare. The majority of species show little increase or 

 decrease from year to year, but both the Starling and Stockdove, 

 which fifty years ago were chiefly immigrants in winter, now nest 

 numerously within the area here treated of.''' 



III.— SPECIES INCLUDED AND EXCLUDED. 



The species, included as having nested in Devon on certain 

 evidence, amount to a no less number than 118, but ten of these 

 have only nested with us in rare instances. 



Among the species which nest amiually in Devon, the Cirl 

 Bunting, Dartford Warbler and Cornish Chough deserve special 

 mention. The "Wryneck, Lesser Whitethroat and Reed AVarbler 

 are almost unknown in Devonshire, and the Common Redstart is 

 rare in the west of the county. The Nightingale is also some- 

 what of a new colonist. These five s})ecies breed numerously in 

 the other southern counties, east of Devon, which appears to lie out- 

 side the usual lines of their migration. Great pains have been 

 bestowed upon the elimination of such species as had been 

 enrolled as Devonian upon unworthy or insufficient evidence, or 



* The Pheasant was comparatively scarce in Devon a century ago. Polwliele states, 

 in 1797, that, in the country Ijeivvec'.i Kxeter an.i Teignniontli, Plieasanls "luiil Income 

 very rare till the late Lord "Couitenay strictly forbade tlie disturbing of a pheasant i.n 

 his sever-U manors," 



