Natural History in the English Counties, 1 75 



Dev.onshire. 



Large Birch Tree. — Sir, When in the west of England a short time ago, 

 I observed in the woods of Berry Pomeroy Castle, near Totnes, the largest 

 birch tree, as far as I recollect, in England j and not having seen it men- 

 tioned in any publication, I am inclined to send you this notice. By my 

 measurement (not very accurate, I must confess, on account of the pecu- 

 liarity of its situation) it was rather more than 15 ft. in circumference above 

 the roots. The height I could scarcely judge of, from the density of the 

 surrounding foliage, but I should think it was little less than 90 ft. It 

 struck me as being decidedly the noblest in its proportions of any that I had 

 seen. In its neighbourhood grows another of larger girth, but not so fine 

 a tree. I am not certain of the species, but should imagine it to be jBetula 

 nigra. — T. E. Cambridge ^ November^ 1829. 



Cornwall. 



Hare or uncommon Birds observed in Cornwall^ particularly in the southern 

 parts of the county, by Mr. C. Jackson; Jonathan Couch, F.L.S.; and 

 the Rev. J. Lakes, Liskeard Vicarage, Oct, 5. 1829. The names are those 

 in Bewick. 



Falco cyaneus. Hen Harrier ; seen occasionally on our wild moors. — 

 F. ^^salon. Merlin ; seen in winter j rare. — F. fulvus ; shot at Lonsallos. 

 — F. peregrinus. There is great reason for beUeving that this species bred 

 annually a few years since in the cliffs near Charlestown, as a kind of hawk, 

 called, on account of its fierceness and activity, the Wicked Hawk, fre- 

 quented that neighbourhood ; and from part of a stuffed specimen which 

 I found nailed to a barn-door, I think it must have been F. peregrinus. 

 The species, however, whatever it was, has left the coast. L. — F. ili'ilvus ; 

 rare. 



iS'trix O'tus, Long-eared Owl j rare. — S. brachyotus. Short-horn Owl ; 

 in winter only, and then scarce. — >S'. Aluco has been shot at mid-day. C. 



Lanius Collurio, Red-backed Shrike, makes its appearance here about 

 5th May, J. ; is rather common. — L. excubitor j a specimen shot near 

 St. Columb, 1828. L. 



Corvus Cornix, Hooded Crow ,• very scarce. — C. 6^raculus, Cornish 

 Chough. Their numbers are of late much diminished ; and in many places 

 where they were formerly common, none are now to be found. 



Coracias garrula. Roller ; one shot near Falmouth, Oct. 4. 1822. 



Oriolus Galbula, Golden Oriole. This bird seems to be not uncommon, 

 but is noticed only in the act of immigration. A male was killed near St. 

 Austle, in March, 1824 ; and a female was taken by a fisherman of Polpeno, 

 May, 1828. I have been informed of several instances, in different years, 

 of their having alighted on vessels and fishing-boats near the shore, and 

 again departing. C. 



Cuculus canorus. In 1823 these birds abounded in an extraordinary 

 degree ; so that when riding along the roads, one might be heard in almost 

 every field. In the following year they were as remarkably scarce. C. 



Funx Torquilla, Wryneck ; very rare. 



Picus major. Great spotted Woodpecker j rare. 



iSitta europae'a. Nuthatch ; scarce. 



yllcedo I'spida, Kingfisher. In May, 1817, a kingfisher was watched to 

 its nest in a hole on the margin of the sea, a quarter of a mile distant from 

 a rivulet ; and the nest was thus secured and brought to me. It was com- 

 posed of dried grass, and lined with hairs and a few feathers. The eggs, 

 three in number, were a little larger than a sparrow's, and of a faint bluish 

 colour, and remarkably transparent. C. 



