54 BIRD-LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



Owl is not so common perhaps, but its wild 

 unearthly screech, we are glad to say, may still 

 be heard in the land. Old residents say that 

 the Barn -Owl was much more abundant in 

 Torquay half-a-century ago, but many of its 

 favourite haunts have been cleared away. We 

 very frequently hear its voice late at night 

 between Torquay and Paignton, and the bird 

 still remains far from rare in the vicinity of 

 Cockington. Of the Hawk tribe, the Kestrel 

 may sometimes be seen hovering above the 

 town, and may still possibly breed on the cliffs 

 near Daddy Hole ; whilst the Sparrowhawk pays 

 frequent visits, and has been known to dash 

 through drawing-room windows in its eager chase 

 of the smaller birds. Lastly, we may briefly 

 allude to the Pigeons. The Stock Dove may 

 very frequently be seen, especially in the vicinity 

 of Silver Hill, the Lincombes, and Daddy Hole ; 

 but by far the most familiar species is the Ring 

 Dove. The bird is a well-known and by no 

 means welcome visitor to most of the large 

 gardens in the suburbs, and in some places is 

 quite as tame as the Starlings and Thrushes, 

 running about the lawns and perching fearlessly 



