330 SMITH : NOTES ON THE BIRDS OF CENTRAL RYEDALE. 



Syrnium aluco (L.). Tawny Owl. Resident; not so 

 numerous as formerly ; breeds. 

 "Circus cyaneus (L.). Hen Harrier. (Local name, Blue 

 Hawk). Formerly known in the district ; not observed now. 



*Buteo vulgaris Leach. Buzzard. Is said to inhabit the 

 moorlands near Hawnby, seven or eight miles westward ; but 

 is probably only a casual visitor. 



Accipiter nisus (L.). Sparrow Hawk. Resident ; fairly 



numerous ; breeds regularly. 

 Milvus ictinus Savign. Kite. (Local name, Glead). Formerly 



met with here ; but has not been seen of late years. 



"Elanoides furcatus (L). Swallow-tailed Kite. Said to. 

 have been killed near Helmsley, in 1859; a statement which 

 I should hesitate to accept without some further proof. 



[I have proof that this specimen was not procured in the 

 district, nor in Britain. — W.E.C.] 

 Falco peregrinus Tunst. Peregrine Falcon. (Local name, 

 Perry Hawk). Very rarely observed now, though formerly 

 fairly numerous. An immature female was picked up, dead, 

 in a field here, in March 1888. Certain marks on its legs led 

 me to think it had escaped from captivity. 

 Falco aesalon Tunst. Merlin. Is still to be met with in the 

 district ; especially on the moorlands. 



Tinnunculus alaudarius (Gmel.). Kestrel. Resident; fairly 

 numerous ; breeds in the neighbouring woods, etc. 



Ardea cinerea L. Heron. (Local name, Heronsue). Resident; 

 fairly numerous ; breeds in the district. 



Anser segetum (Gmel.). Bean Goose. 



Anser brachyrhynchus Baill. Pink-footed Goose. 



Flocks of Geese passing northwards are often observed 

 about October. From the difference in their size, I should 

 judge that both the above species are seen ; but as I have 

 had no opportunity of examining them, I cannot be certain. 

 Have been known to remain in the neighbourhood several 

 days together. A large flock, going northward, passed here 

 April 26th, 1888. 



Cygnus musicus Bechst. Whooper Swan. Several were 

 observed near the Rye about Christmas, 1876, and some others- 

 in 1880. A Swan, described as being of a brown colour, and 

 therefore a young bird, passed over here, going towards the 

 Rye, August 28th, 18S8. 



Naturalist,. 



