396 BANFFSHIRE FAUNA. APPENDIX. 



FALCO NISUS [The Sparrow-Hawk], 



This is another daring individual. When standing on our Links 

 not long since, and speaking to one of our keepers, something 

 struck me on the breast and fell to the ground. Instantly, and 

 like a flash of lightning, down rushed a sparrow-hawk, and 

 picked up a thrush from betwixt us ; it rose with its booty, 

 and was out of sight before we could raise our guns to fire at it. 

 The keeper grumbled a great deal at our seeming stupidity. 



FALCO TINNTJNCTJLTJS [The Kestrel}. 



This mouse-, insect-, and caterpillar-eating bird, or hawk if you 

 will, is very common with us. When a boy I kept, amongst a 

 host of others, several of this species. I remember that when 

 a mouse, a young rabbit, a leveret, and a middle-sized rat, were 

 presented at the same time, either of the former was sure to 

 be pounced upon, whilst the latter usually lay unheeded. Since 

 then, during my thirty years of taxidermal practice, I have 

 often dissected this bird, and found in its stomach the remains 

 principally of the smaller quadrupeds, insects (chiefly beetles), 

 and caterpillars. Yet this poor bird is persecuted with as 

 much severity as birds of the most destructive kind. 



FALCO PALTJMBARIUS [The Goshawk]. 



One was shot at Tomiutoul a short time ago, and two others 

 one at Hillton, the other at Macduff. It is rather a rare bird. 



FALCO MILVIIS [The Kite]. 



This bird was once plentiful here, but it is now rarely seen. A 

 splendid specimen was recently shot at Eden, about four miles 

 from Banff. 



FALCO BUTEO [The Buzzard]. Occasionally met with. 



FALCO LAGOPUS [TJie Hough-Legged Buzzard]. 



More frequent than the last. One in my collection was killed on 

 the hill of Dunn, and another in the museum was shot at For- 

 glen. The nests of this species have also been found in the 

 neighbourhood, though rarely. 



FALCO APIVORTJS [The Honey Buzzard]. 



A still rarer species. A splendid specimen was shot at Gamrie a 

 few years ago. They are usually termed " Gleds " with us. 



FALCO ^ERTJGINOSTJS {The Marsh Harrier]. 



Specimens of these birds are occasionally shot in this neighbour- 

 hood. 



FALCO CYANEUS {The Hen Harrier]. 



Occasionally met with. The male is known here by the names of 

 gray, blue, and lead hawk ; the female by the name of ring-tail. 



FALCO CINEEASCENS [Ash-coloured Harrier]. 



I have only met with one of this species here. It was a first-rate 

 specimen, a male, and a very pretty bird. 



