200 ORNITHOLOGY OF CORNWALL. 



This species may always be known from the other birds of prey 

 by its forked tail, which is plainly distinguishable when the bird 

 soars to a great height, and which is continually the case. At 

 these high elevations the Kite may be seen wheeling on motionless 

 wing in wide circles, the forked tail being very distinguishable 

 against the clear sky. For the size and weight of its body, the enor- 

 mous expanse of wing and length of tail fully explain its powers of 

 sustained flight. Amongst our larger raptores this is by far the 

 most beautiful in plumage. No hawk was better known in the 

 large woodland districts of the central part of Devon when I 

 was a school-boy at Buckfastleigh, than " thefork-tail'dkit," as it 

 was commonly called ; but since that period they have gradually 

 decreased in numbers, and are now amongst our rarest birds. They 

 used to be ranked amongst the ignoble birds of prey, as dis- 

 tinguished from the high-couraged or nobler Falcons. They may 

 be regarded too as one of Nature's scavengers, and unworthy of 

 persecution, as they prefer offal and carrion to living prey, except 

 when disabled or helpless objects -present themselves. 



Amongst the smaller birds of prey, we are often visited in the 

 winter (and the winter only) by one of the smallest of our Falcons, 

 viz : the " Merlin." It is a true Falcon, and inferior to none in 

 courage and sagacity. When they become old, the brown plumage 

 yields to another and very different tone ; the upper parts are of 

 a fine clear blue, the shaft of each feather having a distinct black 

 line. This is the state of plumage Avhich induced Bewick to figure 

 the bird as a distinct species under the name of the " Stone 

 Falcon." A perfect specimen in this state of plumage was obtained 

 this winter on the grounds of the Hon. and Rev. S. Lawley, at 

 Trevayler. 



The late severe frost, although of short continuance, afforded 

 to this district a good supply and variety of wild fowl. Amongst 

 the Ducks we had the Scaup, Golden Eye, Shieldrake, Tufted 

 Duck, and Pochard, besides the commoner species. If the frost 

 had continued in its intensity, probably we should have had the 

 different AVikl Geese, Wild Swans, and other hyemal species ; but 

 the Brent Goose was the only Wild Goose that came under my 

 notice. We were visited by the Red-breasted Merganser, in its 

 adult plumage ; it is generally observed in its perfect and orna- 

 mental plumage in the Summer; but I am inclined to lean to 



