114 THE BIRDS OF DEVONSHIRE. 



generally of oak. But the intelligence I have 

 received both from the North and South of Devon, 

 leads me to conclude that it is not so frequent here, 

 as in many other counties. "It is scarce near 

 Southmolton," says one corresj^ondent ; " It is 

 seldom seen near Modbury," says another. It is still 

 a scarce breeding bird in the county, though Mr. W. 

 E. Toll assures me that, in the neighbourhood of 

 Slapton Ley, it is increasing in numbers every year. 

 Here at Broadclyst a pair of Turtle Doves frequent 

 a clump of holly bushes in an orchard belonging to 

 my Father, returning to their favourite haunt every 

 spring. Mr. Gatcombe considered the Turtle Dove 

 a very uncommon bird in the south-west of Devon, 

 though he ascertained that it occasionally nested on 

 the wooded banks of the Tamar. Mr. Mitchell 

 considers it a scarce bird, but sometimes sees pairs 

 feeding in the countrj^- roads, and once found a nest 

 in North Devon. Mr. Rawson met with the species 

 near Braunton. 



