The Birds of Prey. 261 



mistaken for its rarer ally ; and the Eagle Tree at the extreme 

 west end of Yinney Ridge commemorates where one was shot, 

 some fifty years ago, hy a Forest-keeper. The osprey, however 

 {Falco haliaetus), still frequents the coast in the autumn, 

 and circles over Christchurch Harbour fishing for his prey, 

 where, as Yarrell mentions, he is well known as the '' grey- 

 mullet hawk," on account of his fondness for that fish. 



The Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrinus), which breeds on 

 the high Culver Clifi's of the Isle of Wight, and in the Lulworth 

 Eocks, is in the summer a regular visitor, and scours the whole 

 country. No year goes by without some half-dozen or more 

 being killed. 



Its congener the hobby (Falco subbuteo), knowoi in the Forest 

 as " the van-winged hawk," comes about the same time as the 

 honey-buzzard, building in the old, deserted nests of crows and 

 magpies, and even, as in one case, to my knowledge, in that 

 of the honey-buzzard. The bird, however, is becoming scarce. 

 For several years I have known a pair or two build in Buckhill 

 Wood, of which a sketch is given at the end of this chapter, 

 but last year none came. It lays generally about the beginning 

 of June, though I have received its eggs as late as July 12th. 

 Yarrell says that their number is three or four ; but, with 

 Mr. Hoy,* I have never known the bird lay more than three, 

 and very often only two. 



The goshawk {Falco palumbarius) and the rough-legged 

 buzzard {Falco lagopus) are very rarely seen ; but, I fear, the 

 kite, although so plentiful in Gilpin's time, has nearly deserted 

 this, like all other districts. Once, and once only, has it been 



* Illustrations of the Eggs of British Birds, by "\V\ C. Ilewitson, 

 vol. i. p. 27. 



261 



