OP N0ETHU3CBEE1AND AjSTD BrRHAM. 13 



approacli of some one, turned its head a little in the direction of 

 the critic. " Tut, tut, sir ! what are you up to now ? what joke 

 is this?" said my friend, thinking that by some mechanism I 

 had contrived to make the supposed stuffed bird tui'n his head. 

 He then put his hand upon the back of the Palcon, which at 

 once raised its wings. My friend started and exclaimed, "Why, 

 sir, the bird is alive !" " Yes ! yes !" I rejoined, " hut is it not 

 rather stiff on its legsf This was the last time I ever heard 

 any criticism on the stiffness of my Falcon's legs. 



11. HoBBT. p. STJBBTJTEO, LinncBus. 



Falco suUuteo, Bewick, Hist. Brit. Biixls, Ed. 1847, I., 13. 

 YarreU, Hist. Brit. Bii-ds, Ed. 4, I., 65. 



A rare casual visitant. I obtained, several years ago, an 

 adult female which was killed in Streatlam Park, near Stain- 

 drop. This was apparently a breeding bird, and probably had 

 its nest in that locality. It is the specimen alluded to in Selby's 

 catalogue. Another individual was shot near Thornley, Dur- 

 ham, September, 1832, and is now in the Dm-ham University 

 Museum. A male was shot on ISTewcastle Town Moor, 25th 

 July, 1853. To Mr. Duncan, animal preserver, I am indebted 

 for this information. A second example, also a male, was 

 killed at the same place on the 15th August, 1859, and is now 

 in the ITewcastle Museum ; and an adult female was shot at Cul- 

 lercoats on the 2nd June, 1863, and is in the possession of Mr. 

 M. C. Woods, of HoUeyn HaH. 



IS'otwithstanding the probability of the Streatlam specimen 

 having bred there, yet, as there is no clear proof of the species 

 ever having done so ia either of the two counties, it must be 

 considered a mere casual visitant. 



12. Eed-footed EAicoiir. E. VESPEEximrs, Linnmus. 

 Falco vespertinus, YarreU, Hist. Brit. Birds, Ed. 4, I., 69. 

 Erythroims vespertinus, Gould, Birds of Gt. Britain, Part XYI. 



This rare casual visitant has occurred twice or thrice in our 

 district. A mature male was shot at the Trow Eocks, South 



