Birds: | 9039 
that this bird has before been noticed as being killed in England: I found them very 
plentiful in Ireland, about Newtown, when there, in 1844, with Mr. H. Melville — 
David Graham; Market Street, York, February 13, 1864. [I feel very doubtful as to 
the names, but have done my best for them.— Z. N.] 
The Common Kite—It may be interesting tu the readers of the ‘ Zoologist’ to 
know that the common kite (Milvus regalis) has not become quite extinct. On the 
20th of February I saw a splendid skin of this species, sent to a taxidermist to be 
preserved, which was shot in Wiltshire, near Longleat. It is more than twenty years 
since I have seen a living bird, and only two skins during that period: they have 
become exceedingly rare in England. In Morris’s ‘ History of British Birds,’ I find 
one was seen in Hornsey Wood, in 1833, and another, in 1844, near Barnsley. When 
I was a boy, living in Hampshire, near Romsey, a pair of birds had a nest in a very 
high vak tree, standing in a wood, not far from our dwelling. This nest was occupied 
two years in succession, after which I saw no more of the birds. There is reason to 
fear that the keepers destroyed both old and young. Many of our British birds are . 
becoming very rare, and even our summer visitants do not appear in such great 
numbers as they did some thirty years ago. Can any reader of the ‘ Zovlogist’ give 
a reason for their diminished numbers ?—J. J. Fox ; Devizes, March 1, 1864. 
Osprey, Kite and Little Bustard in Devonshire——A fine female specimen of the 
osprey was shot at Slapton Ley, where it had been seen fishing for roach and perch for 
several days previously. I have also received a male specimen of the kite, which was 
shot at in the cliffs adjoining the sea, and was taken wounded the following morning. 
Since this a female specimen of the little bustard has been sent me by Lieut. Pearce, 
who shot it about a fortnight since on the high open lands adjoining the sea-coast 
adjacent to the Start Lighthouse.—Henry Nicholls, jun.; Kingsbridge, March 21, 
1864. 
The Osprey in North Wales.—A fine osprey was shot last week in the adjoining 
parish of Llandrillo, by one of the gamekeepers of Croggen, the seat of the Earl of 
Dudley; it was of large size, and had been seen haunting the neighbouring Berwyn 
Mountains for some few weeks past, and occasionally visiting the outlying farms all 
around here; and about the time of the severe snow-storm which we had in the early 
part of this month, it was seen on the lands of Ty Cerrig, closely adjoining the Church of 
Llandderfel.— William Pamplin ; North Wales Central Botanic Gardens, Llandderfel, 
Merionethshire, March 26, 1864. 
Anecdotes of Hawks.—In the ‘ Zoologist’ (Zool. 8875) is recorded the singular 
capture of a hawk in pursuit of a small bird. A similar instance came under my 
notice a short time ago: whilst my uncle was fishing in the River Avon at Stratford- 
sub-Castle, in Wiltshire, early in November, he observed a hawk pursuing a bird; in 
a few moments, either from having been struck by the hawk or from fear, the bird, 
which was a thrush, fell within a few feet of the spot where he was standing: the 
hawk, unwilling to lose his victim, came headlong after it, and the person who 
was with my uncle struck it with his fishing-rod, and in this manner disabled it 
sufficiently to make an easy capture of it: on examination the hawk proved to be a 
male kestrel, and is now in my possession. Another instance of the boldness of this 
species occurred in December last: whilst my brother, Dr. H. P. Blackmore, was 
driving along the turnpike-road near Wilton, about three miles to the west of Salisbury, 
he noticed a sparrow busily engaged in the road looking for food; his attention was 
soon after attracted to-a hawk, which he saw flying towards the road: with that 
