HISTORY OF BRITISH BIRDS 75 



a letter was written by his friend without a note or 

 two on some interesting point in natural history. 

 Many of these were found of service in the compila- 

 tion of the " History of British Birds." In 1849, 

 when writing of the hawks seen in his neighbour- 

 hood, Mr. Alington mentions that the Peregrine 

 Falcon was not uncommon in the spring : " Hobby 

 common ; Merlin uncommon a specimen was shot 

 by myself in this parish while feeding on a lark ; 

 Kestrel very common ; Sparrow-hawk very com- 

 mon ; Kite formerly more common than it is now ; 

 Common Buzzard ditto ; Hen Harrier common." 

 How the times with these birds have changed (alas ! 

 for the worse) since then ! 



Richard Alington could generally be relied on 

 to clear up a doubtful question. The following, as 

 to the flight of the Wild Duck and Teal, is a case 

 in point. He shall speak of it in his own way : 

 "With regard to the flight of the Wild Duck 

 and Teal, I should say it was as nearly identical as 

 possible, but the latter is quicker in the stroke of 

 the wing very similar to what may be observed 

 between the Rook and the Jackdaw. They drop, 

 too, upon the water more suddenly than the Duck, 

 all at once possibly from this habit called a 

 ' plump' of Teal. During flight they will some- 

 times (especially at sunset, when off to their feeding- 

 grounds) sweep down with a rush close to the 

 ground, and as suddenly rise again. Before settling 

 they will make frequent feints to do so, flying round 

 and round in small circles. They do not generally 



