76 THE BIRDS OF CUMBERLAND. 



March 15th, saw a Sparrowhawk strike a healthy 

 Grouse, which he picked up ; but the biter is some- 

 times bitten, for Mr. Lalor found a fine adult 

 Sparrowhawk in a Polecat's larder near Wigton. 



Twenty-one eggs were taken from a female 

 Sparrowhawk in succession, our correspondent at 

 last finding the poor bird dead on her nest. 



Genus MILVUS. 



M. Ictinus. Kite. 



The Kite is a casual visitant of extremely rare 

 occurrence. A Kite was shot near Carlisle, Nov. 13, 

 1856 {T. Armstrong, Naturalist, Vol. 7, p. 251) ; 

 another was seen near Lorton in 1873 (/. W. Harris, 

 MS.) ; a third was seen near Renwick by Mr. 

 G. Lawrence, and in Geltsdale, in the autumn of 

 1881. Formerly a local but well-known resident, 

 the first years of our century witnessed its exter- 

 mination, the last authenticated Cumbrian nest being 

 built in some ivy on the west side of Castle Head, 

 and harried in 1809 by Mr. Gaskett and John 

 Graves in the presence of John Pearson, who shot 

 the last native Kite about 1840. ( IV. K Dover, MS.) 

 This bird is preserved by Mr. Sawer of Threlkeld. 



Genus PERN IS. 



P. Apivorus. Honey Buzzard. 



The Honey Buzzard is a casual visitant of rare 

 occurrence in autumn. A Honey Buzzard, im- 

 mature, was shot at Paughton Head, Oct., 1832 ; 



