OF NORTHTIMBEELAOT) A]ST) DUKHAM. 



This species, like all tlie larger bu'ds of prey, is fast disappear- 

 ing everywhere under the influence of the gamekeeper's gun and 

 trap. Some years ago it bred in the district : it is now a rare 

 casual visitant here. In 1835 I saw several specimens in the 

 collection of the late Mr. Smui'thwaite, of Staindrop, all of which 

 that gentleman informed me had been recently taken in that 

 neighbourhood. 



One individual, in my own collection, was obtained at Ravens- 

 worth, February, 1837. Another was killed October, 1852. In 

 the stomach of the latter were found the remains of four moles 

 and one fi'og. In March, 1856, I found a fine specimen washed 

 up on Whitburn Sands. This, which is in my collection, has 

 the breast of a beautiful buff colour, resembling the specimens 

 that occur in France. 



This is a very variable species, scarcely any two individuals 

 being alike. The changes of the plumage do not appear to be 

 understood : whether or to what extent the plumage is influenced 

 by age or sex is not as yet determined. 



5. ARCHIBUTEO, Brehm. 



5. EOUGH-LEGGBD BUZZAHD. A. LAGOPTJS, {BrUmi.) 



Falco lagopus, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 1847, I., 40. 

 Buteo lagopus, Yarrell, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 4, I., 115. 



This is a rare casual visitant to our district. I have only three 

 captures of it to record. One was shot in "Walbottle Dene, Octo- 

 ber, 1831; another at Marsden, in 1823, which is now in the 

 Newcastle Museum ; the third was killed at Bishop Auckland, 

 in 1840. About that time several specimens occurred on both 

 sides of the Tees and in "Westmoreland. 



This species takes occasionally the smaller mammals : I have 

 taken out of the crop the greater portion of a stoat. There had 

 evidently been a severe struggle between the captor and the cap- 

 tured, for a considerable strip of the skin, with the feathers of 

 the throat, had been torn away. 



