134 OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



Hall, which, according to the Journal of the Rev. Wrn 

 Whitear,f was shot in the wood on January 29th, 1823. 



2. PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus). 



A female in second year's plumage was shot near Gawdy 

 Hall on the 12th January, 1884. 



3. f HOBBY (Falco subbuteo). 



Rare. Mr. Stevenson records the nesting of this hawk at 

 Thorpe Abbots. About fifteen years ago a pair of Hobbies 

 built a nest in an oak-tree in Gawdy Hall Park. The birds 

 were shot, and, with their nest and eggs, are preserved at the 

 Hall. The Hobby has also been killed at Flixton (Suckling's 

 Suffolk). 



4. MERLIN (Falco fesalon). 



Sir E. Kay's keeper has killed three or four Merlins at 

 Thorpe Abbots. 



5. *KESTREL (Falco tinmmculus). 



Though a constant war is waged against this bird, it is 

 still by no means uncommon. For several years a pair nested 

 in the tower of Redenhall Church, and I have known the bird 

 to breed in the fragment of old wall which is all now remain- 

 ing of the ruins of Mendham Priory. (In the summer of 1886 

 I found a Kestrel's nest, containing six eggs hard sat upon, 

 in the ruinous tower of Linstead Magna Church, within a few 

 feet of the bell chimed every Sunday for service. ) 



6. *SPARROW-HAWK (Accipiter nisus). 



Less common than the Kestrel, but not yet extinct as a 

 resident with us. 



7. [BUZZARD (Buteo ?). 



Frequent reports of large raptorial birds seen in the 

 neighbourhood are brought to me in autumn ; most 

 probably Common or Rough-legged Buzzards on 

 passage.] 



8. *TAWNY OWL (Strix aluco). 



A few Tawny Owls still exist in the woods around Flixton 

 Hall, but elsewhere in the district the bird is either extinct or 

 very rare. Two or three years ago Sir E. Kay's keeper killed 

 one of these birds at Thorpe Abbots. 



t The Rev. Wm. Whitear, M.A., F.L.S., was Recbor 9f Starston from 

 1803 till his death in 1826. His Journal, covering the years' 18091826, was 

 published by the Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society, in their " Trans- 

 actions " for 188081, vol. iii., pp. 231262. 



