EAST DEVON. XXIX 



1891, when Mr. Lucas, who now rents the shooting from Sir 

 Lydstou Newman, wishing to thin the number of Coots which had 

 accumulated, organized a large shooting-party, when 1700 Coots 

 were slaughtered, as will be found moi'e fully recounted in our 

 account of the Coot. Amongst the rare birds that have occurred 

 on and around the Ley may be mentioned the Crested Lark, 

 Honey-Buzzard, Bean-Goose, Gadwall, White-eyed Duck, Black- 

 winged Stilt, Black- throated Diver, &c. 



Slapton Ley is the most important and largest sheet of fresh 

 water on the coast, but there are some others known as Leys, viz.: — 



ToRCROSs Ley, an artificial piece of water made by Mr. A. F. 

 Holdsworth, J. P., C.C., of Widdicombe, about 1878. It is about 

 thirty acres in extent and is kept in by a sea-wall. It is close to 

 the village of Beesands and contains fish. It is sometimes visited 

 by Wild-fowl. 



Thurlestone Ley is on the Thurlestone part of the Brunskill 

 estate, and is more of a marsh than a lake, having been drained. 

 It covers about twelve acres. 



Milton or Horswell Ley is only a lake when the equinoctial 

 gales dam back the water by a barrier of sand ; then the fresh 

 water collects and a fine sheet of water is formed for a short time, 

 until the accumulated weight of it breaks down the barrier and the 

 Ley is drained into a foul-smelling marsh. 



HuiSH Ley by recent successful drainage is now converted into 

 a marsh and is a favourite nesting-place for the Lapwing. 



III. EAST DEVON. 



Under this title wc include all that part of the county lying 

 between the Teign Valley and the watershed formed by the moor- 

 lands of Morchard Bishop, Washford Pync, Jlackcnford, and so on 

 to Anstey I J cad on the Avcst, and Somerset and Dorset on the 

 north and cast ; and all that part which on the south irora Tcign- 

 mouth to Lyme Kegis borders on the English Channel. This 

 eastern division of the county is traversed by several ranges ot 

 low hills, running for the most part in a north and south direction, 

 such as the Haldons (800 ft.), V\'oodbury and Ottcry East Hills ; 

 and the north-eastern portion is occnpied i)y the nuvss of" the Bhick- 

 down J [ills. The coast-line is indented by the est\iaries of the 

 Tcign and Exc and the smaller ones of the Otter and Axe, and the 



