BIRDS 



and would doubtless do so, if permitted, in 

 many places, but its singularly handsome ap- 

 pearance causes it to be the subject of the 

 most wanton destruction. It is nearly always 

 slaughtered directly it shows itself, and its 

 history in Surrey consists of a long death-roll 

 (Bucknill y pp. 162-166). 



III. Cuckoo. Cuculus canorus, Linn. 



An abundant summer visitor, arriving about 

 mid-April and leaving in early autumn. The 

 meadow-pipit, hedge-sparrow, robin, yellow 

 hammer and pied wagtail are its favourite 

 foster parents in Surrey. 



112. White or Barn-Owl. Strix flammed, 



Linn. 



A common resident in the rural districts, 

 and is sometimes noticed in suitable places 

 near London. Popularly called the ' screech- 

 owl,' from its hoarse note. 



113. Long-eared Owl. Asia otus (Linn.). 



A scarce resident, frequenting the thickest 

 woods. It is very retiring and seldom noticed, 

 but is to be found in the fir-covered grounds 

 of the wilder portions of the county. Its nest 

 has been recorded occasionally from several 

 different localities. 



114. Short-eared Owl. Asia accipitrinus 



(Pallas). 



A somewhat rare winter visitor to the 

 county, from which it has been recorded on 

 possibly a score of occasions (Bucknill, p. 171, 

 172). 



115. Tawny Owl. Syrnium aluto (Linn.). 



A fairly common resident, and in many 

 well-wooded parts of Surrey quite plentiful. 



1 1 6. Little Owl. Athene noctua (Scopoli). 



A doubtful straggler which, although 

 noticed in the county on two or three occa- 

 sions, may quite possibly have never occurred 

 in Surrey in a truly feral state (Bucknill, pp. 

 '73, 174). 



117. Marsh-Harrier. Circus <eruginosus 



(Linn.). 



Formerly nested in the county, but now a 

 rare visitor. Has been recorded about a dozen 

 times (Bucknill, pp. 175-177). 



11 8. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.). 



Doubtless in bygone years a resident on 

 the rough moorlands and boggy heaths but at 

 the present only an occasional visitor of rare 

 occurrence. Noticed in Surrey rather more 

 frequently than the preceding species (Bucknill, 

 pp. 177-179). 



211 



119. Montagu's Harrier. Circus cineraceus 



(Montagu). 



Another now rare visitor, though formerly 

 no doubt of comparatively frequent appear- 

 ance both in and out of the nesting season. 

 Recorded on some twelve occasions (Bucknill, 

 pp. 179, 1 80). 



1 2O. Buzzard. Buteo vu/garis, Leach. 



A resident in former years, but probably 

 not very recently. Still an occasional visitor, 

 soon, with any other big hawk which visits 

 Surrey, slain by the keeper on arrival. Re- 

 corded frequently even in quite recent years 

 (Bucknill, pp. 180-182). 



121. Rough-legged Buzzard. Buteo lagopus 



(Gmelin). 



A rare winter visitor to this county, in 

 which it has been killed some half a dozen 

 times (Bucknill, pp. 182, 183). 



[Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaftus (Linn.). 



Although recorded as having occurred in 

 Surrey on more than one occasion, the sup- 

 posed examples have turned out to be imma- 

 ture specimens of the succeeding species. An 

 unchallenged specimen is however recorded 

 as having been shot at Godalming in 1810. 

 The account may perhaps require confirma- 

 tion, but is the only golden eagle to which 

 the county can lay claim (Bucknill, p. 183).] 



122. White-tailed Eagle. HaliaOtus albicilla 



(Linn.). 



An occasional straggler to the county, 

 where it has been noticed six times (Bucknill, 

 pp. 183-185). 



123. Goshawk. Astur palumbarius (Linn.). 

 A very rare visitor, recorded on only three 



or four occasions (Bucknill, p. 1 8 5). 



124. Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter nisus (Linn.). 

 With the kestrel, the only hawk which 



nests in Surrey regularly. A fairly common 

 resident, but being very rapacious in its depre- 

 dations upon the young of both game birds 

 and poultry does not meet often with a hos- 

 pitable reception and is doubtless decreasing 

 rather rapidly. 



125. Kite. Afifvus ictinus, Savigny. 



A very rare visitor to Surrey, which is 

 singularly badly off for records of this species. 

 Only noticed in the county two or three 

 times (Bucknill, pp. 186, 187). 



[American Swallow-tailed Kite. Elanoides 

 furcatus (Linn.). 



Reported to have once been shot at Farn- 

 ham. The evidence is not quite satisfactory 

 (Bucknill, p. 1 8 8).] 



