Birds. 935 



Cork Harbour, and when brought to Lord Shannon's was in perfect plumage, and 

 presented no indications of ever having been in confinement. From this it does not 

 seem likely that it could have escaped from a ship ; on the contrary, there is more 

 reason for considering it a rare occasional visitant. Again, being a European bird, 

 and extending its range as far as Switzerland, it was at least as likely to have occurred 

 as the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus, Linn, sp.), which has been met with 

 once or twice in Britain.'' — Fauna and Flora of Cork. 



Occurrence of the Iceland Falcon and Rough-legged Buzzard in Northumberland. 

 An immature male of the Iceland Falcon (Falco Islandicus of Hancock) was shot in the 

 vicinity of Bellingham, Northumberland, the beginning of last week ; it is now in the 

 collection of C. Adamson, Esq., of this town. To-day I have seen a fine variety of the 

 rough-legged buzzard (Buteo Lagopus) also procured in the same fruitful locality. — 

 Thos John Bold ; 24, Cloth Market, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Jan. 30, 1845. 



[The following more detailed statement appeared in the Morning Chronicle of the 

 6th February : — " A specimen of the Iceland falcon (Falco islandicus) was shot near 

 the North Tyne, last week. It was a young male bird of the last year. This species 

 was for a long time considered identical with the Gyr falcon, of Greenland, until the 

 difference was pointed out by Mr. J. Hancock, during the week that the meetings of 

 the British Association for the Advancement of Science were held in Newcastle. It is 

 a very rare species in England, few instances of its capture being on record. In 

 Iceland it appears to be not very uncommon during the summer months, where it 

 breeds, but its equatorial migrations do not generally bring it so far south. The flight 

 of these birds is powerful in the extreme. Montagu reckons that of the peregrine 

 falcon (which is a closely-allied species to the present, but smaller) to be 150 miles an 

 hour. At this speed, the distance from Iceland to this country would be easily per- 

 formed. The present bird, which is now in the possession of Mr. Charles Adamson 

 of this town, was in good condition, weighing 2% pounds."] 



Supposed occurrence of the Chanting Falcon in Suffolk. The following paragraph 

 is copied from the ' Kentish Gazette' for the 18th March, which has just reached me. 

 I presume the account may be relied on ; and, at any rate, your notice of it will be 

 sure to be seen by persons resident in the neighbourhood, some of whom will, I dare 

 say, be good enough to confirm it if true, or contradict it if false. The newspaper 

 paragraph is headed " The Chanting Hawk. — A few days since a gentleman shot in 

 the neighbourhood of Hasborough a very curious bird, called the chanting hawk, or 

 Falco musicus (Daudin). It is a native of Africa, and is very seldom seen in this 

 country. Cuvier says it is the only bird of prey that sings agreeably. In size it 

 equals the goshawk. Its plumage is grey above, white, barred with brown on the lower 

 part of the back, and on the under part of the body. It is preserved by Mr. Spinks, 

 hair-dresser, North Walsham, where it may be seen." Perhaps Hasborough should 

 have been written Happisburgh, as this is the only place likely to be intended, which I 

 can find in the map of Norfolk, near North Walsham, and it lies on the eastern coast. 

 It may be useful to mention, that there are several specimens of this falconine species 

 in the British Museum, under the name of Melierax musicus, which comes into the 

 subfamily Circinae, according to Mr. G. R. Gray (' List of the Genera of Birds,' p. 6). 

 The specimens in the Museum are labelled as from South Africa and the Gambia, 

 which would give the bird the range of the greater part of the continent of Africa. I 

 will add, that a figure of the chanting falcon will be found at page 307 of the Habits 

 of Birds in the ' Library of Entertaining Knowledge,' where a few interesting par- 

 ticulars are given on the authority of M. Vaillant. It is stated that " the male is 



