xlviii THE FAUXISTIC POSITION OF SPECIES. 



to the severe cold in the "winter of 1886 and 1887. The Grey 

 "Wagtail is now well-known to be resident in Cornwall, Devon, 

 and Somerset, though only a -winter visitor to Dorset. The Cirl 

 Bunting is a rather local species, -whose breeding-habits, like those 

 of the Dartford Warbler, were first descril)ed from observations 

 made in this county by Col. Montagu. This Bunting was added 

 to the British List by that accomplished naturalist, he having 

 first observed it in South Devon. The Starling, formerly only a 

 winter visitor to the western part of the county, now breeds 

 throughout its limits, except upon Dartmoor, and has enormously 

 increased in numbers. Those that breed with us are, however, few 

 compared with the vast flocks that visit us in winter. The Chough, 

 once a common bird on the sea-cliff's, is now reduced to a few 

 pairs which breed in some places on the north coast. The Raven, 

 the Buzzard, and the Peregrine have been subjected to great per- 

 secution, but still contrive to keep a footing here and there in 

 wild and inaccessible places. The Corn-Bunting, like the Cirl 

 Bunting, is local, and almost confined to the sea-coast. The 

 Goldfinch is less plentiful than formerly, the progress of agricul- 

 ture depriving it of its favourite food, the seeds of thistles and 

 other composite plants. The AVood-Lark is rather local, but 

 common in some places in the breeding-season, and large numbers 

 are seen on the borders of Dartmoor and on the sea-coast in 

 autumn. The Great Spotted Woodpecker is occasionally seen in 

 wooded parts of the county, and the Lesser Spotted "Woodpecker 

 is far from uncommon in many localities. The Stock-Dove, for- 

 merly only a winter visitor, has now established itself as a per- 

 manent resident, as is also the Rock-Dove, though it is not clear 

 M'hether the last species is not represented in most places by the 

 Domestic Blue Rock gone wild. The Common Sheldrake is con- 

 fined to two breeding-stations, one on the north and the other on 

 the south coast. The Wild Duck and Teal principally breed on 

 the Leys of the south-west coast. We have seen the Dunlin 

 solitary and in full breeding-plumage on Dartmoor in June, and 

 it is stated to have bred there formerly, as it has done on the 

 Cornish moors ; but we do not know of any recent instance of 

 its nest being found there. The Green Sandpiper, being seen 

 occasionally at all times of the year, very probably breeds some- 



