84 THE BIRDS OF DEYOX. 



the sake of seeking protection from their enemies the Peregrines, we are 

 informed that the birds are now no longer resident, and are only repre- 

 sented by a chance straggler from the mainland at long intervals. 



At Abbotsham, on the north coast, where we can remember Choughs 

 being numerous and nesting in some old chimneys, we are told that none 

 have been seen for years. And the same sad tale is repeated from other 

 old haunts of the bird. In the romantic neighbourhood of Lyuton, on 

 the bold promontory called Countesbury Hill and in the Yalley of Rocks, 

 on most of the clitfs which stretch westwards from Ilfracombe to Baggy 

 Point, especially at Croyde and Morthoe, we used formerly to see the 

 Chough ; and, again, on the opposite side of Bideford Bay along the cliffs 

 towards Clovelly and Hartland Point, and, turning that headland, the 

 slaty cliffs of North Cornwall, used to afford them a home, and their 

 presence added to the wildness of the scenery at Boscastle and Tintagel. 

 We have renson to believe that a pair or two are still to be found in some 

 of these old stations, although we must mournfully confess that Choughs 

 wore no longer to be seen on some of them which we have recently 

 visited. 



In South Devon Mr. E. A. S. Elliot informed us that Choughs used to 

 frequent the cliffs at Prawle Point and Bolt Head, and nested there, and 

 !^^r. G. F. Mathew saw them in those localities when searching for 

 Lijcfpna arion in the summer months. "We have no information as to 

 the presence of the Chough on the cliffs between Exmoiith and Sidmouth. 

 In the course of many visits we have never detected it on that part of 

 the coast. Further east, Mr. J. E. Harting found Choughs nesting on 

 the Dorsetshire coast near Lulworth, and Mr. Mansel-Pleydell thought 

 they were increasing in his county, and says that they have returned to 

 their old fpiarters on the Purbeck cliffs, whence they had been driven by 

 persecution. 



The Choujjh is easily to be distinguished from the Jackdaw when in 

 the air by its longer wings and more buoyant and skimming flight. It 

 feeds on insects, worms, sometimes on carrion, rarely on grain. In the 

 winter Choughs come inland for some little distance, and may then be 

 seen walking about in the fields, although Col. "Nfontagu supposed, 

 erroneouslv, that they were averse to walking on turf. AVe know of six 

 having been killed at a single shot when feeding on a manure-heap at 

 Braunton by a sportsman wishing to discharge his gun before returning 

 home. This was long ago in the muzzle-loading days. In the severe 

 winter we spent on Lundy Island we noticed Choughs picking the bodies 

 of the starved Sky-Larks and Redwings. 



Choughs are easily tamed, becoming very impudent and familiar. We 

 remember one, taken out of a nest at Abbotsham, which was allowed to 

 have the run of Bridge Street, Bideford. It belonged to a family in- 

 habiting one of the houses, and was the general pet of the whole street, 

 flving in and out of the different windows in turn. 



Mr. J. Gatcombe has stated that a tame Chough learned to imitate 

 exactly the call-note of a Canary. 



The late Mr. Ralph Sanders, of Exeter, for many years kept a small 



