BIRDS OF PREY. 19 



rather discursive, frequently proceeding some distance 

 inland from its usual haunts on the sea shore. The 

 birds in question were no exception to these peculiarities, 

 one being shot at Osberton, a few miles from Ollerton, 

 at the beginning of January, 1857, and the other was 

 killed several days later (January 13, 1857), at Lina 

 Wood, near Laugh ton-en -le-Morthen, just across the 

 northern border of Nottinghamshire. 



The latter bird was seen in the neighbourhood of 

 Morthen for more than a fortnight before it was shot. 

 On several occasions it was observed perched in a tree 

 about a hundred yards from Pinch Mill, the person 

 resident there taking it at that distance for a stray 

 heron. Thomas Whitfield, the gamekeeper to J. C. 

 Athorpe, Esq., of Dinniugton, made many attempts to 

 get within range of the bird, but was as often baffled by 

 its wariness. It was observed to be much molested by 

 crows and small birds, and frequently, as if to escape 

 from persecutions which were beneath its notice to 

 resent, it would mount into the air with graceful spiral 

 curves until it became nearly lost to sight, leaving its 

 puny assailants far below, and then would sweep as 

 gracefully down again, with all the ease and lightness of 

 wing of the swallow. 



It seems uncertain what its food consisted of during 

 its sojourn, for it was not seen to make any attack. At 

 night it roosted on a tree, but still maintained a vigilant 

 watch. When perceived by Whitfield, it was perched 

 on a tree on the outskirts of the wood ; but the night 

 being moonlight, it perceived his approach, and he 

 had great difficulty in getting within gunshot. At the 

 moment of his firing it flew off, and he thought he had 

 failed in hitting it ; but in the morning he found it dead 



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