136 ME SELBY ON THE FAUNA OF TWIZELL. 



exhibits a considerable number of species belonging to the first three 

 orders, particularly that of the Insessores, which may be attributed to 

 the variety of the ground, and the extensive plantations upon the 

 property, so congenial to the habits of the majority of its members. 

 Among the Falconidse, is the cinereous sea-eagle {Hal. alblcilla), as I 

 have twice had the gratification of seeing this noble bird wing his way 

 across the fields, on his rovite from the coast to the higher parts of the 

 country. The honey-buzzard {Pernis apivorus) one of our rarest rap- 

 torial birds, has already been noticed and exhibited to the members of 

 the Club. BomhyciUa (larrula, the lonely wax- wing chatterer, I have 

 twice seen at distant intervals ; and the Loxia curvirostra (common 

 crossbill) is not an unfrequent visitant. The Picus major (greater 

 spotted woodpecker) is the only species I have noticed : its visits are 

 short and uncertain, and generally confined to the period of its autum- 

 nal migratory movements. The creeper ( Cevthia familiar is)., is however 

 abundant, and resides with us the whole year. That delightful song- 

 ster the wood-lark, Alauda arborea, has only once been met with. 

 Among the Grallatores, the lofaniis ochropus (green sandpiper) and the 

 Crex Porzana (spotted crake) are the only species of rare occurrence. 

 In the class Eeptilia, the Anguis fragilis (blind or slow-worm) is fre- 

 quently seen in the dens, as is also the common viper or adder of the 

 country, which upon examination I find to be the Pelias Berus of 

 Bonaparte, the Vipera communis of Jenyns. The red and dark brown 

 varieties are sometimes met with, which in a great measure I believe 

 depend upon the state or age of the epidermis, as well as the sex of 

 the reptile. 



