The Birds of Prey. 261 



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

 west end of Vinney Ridge commemorates where one was shot, 

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

 (Falco haliceetus), 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 Cliffs of the Isle of Wight, and in the Lulworth 

 Rocks, 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), known 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. 



ffhe 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 W. C. Hewitson, 

 vol. i. p. 27. 



