1022 Birds. 



Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Picus minor. This small bird is very 

 scarce in our woods and forests. It is uncommonly shy, and eludes 

 observation by any other means than the use of the telescope. 



Red-legged Partridge, Perdrix rubra. Sometimes seen in moun- 

 tainous situations. The habits of this species differ materially from 

 those of the common partridge, the males leaving the females, and as- 

 sembling in coveys while the latter are sitting and rearing their young. 

 They are more difficult to shoot than the Perdrix cinerea, their flight 

 being much more rapid, and the rocky spots they inhabit rendering 

 the footing of the sportsman in general too insecure for shooting on 

 them, either upwards or downwards, with any certainty of success. 

 This partridge has often been known to perch on trees, when hard 

 pressed, and is much more silent than the common species, being sel- 

 dom heard to call after being dispersed. Julian Deby. 



Lacken, May 1, 1845. 



(To be continued). 



Occurrence of the Golden Eagle in Cheshire. A fine specimen of this bird (Falco 

 chrysaetos, Linn.), was captured last month at Somerfield Park, Cheshire, the seat of 

 Sir C. P. Shakerley, Bart. Its appearance created much surprize. After many inef- 

 fectual attempts made by the keepers to get within gun-shot, it was ultimately taken 

 in a trap. It has since been stuffed, and is now in Sir Charles Shakerley's possession. 

 I have ascertained that one was taken some years ago, at Eaton Hall, near Chester, 

 the seat of the Marquis of Westminster, but am not aware of any other appearance of 

 this bird being on record ; indeed, from the peculiar flatness of this county, and the 

 absence of those rocky fastnesses which are the favourite haunts of the Raptores, they 

 form a very small portion of our Fauna. — /. W. Barlow. 



The supposed Chaunting Falcon. The supposed " chauntiug hawk " enquired af- 

 ter in the last number of 'The Zoologist' (Zool. 935), is a hen harrier.— J. H. Gurney; 

 Norwich, April 1, 1845. 



Anecdote of a Hawk killed by a locomotive engine. On Sunday last, as the pilot 

 engine was proceeding towards Loughborough, and when just beyond the Barrow sta- 

 tion, a hawk, attempting to cross the line at the moment, was knocked down by the 

 engine. On returning to Loughborough, the hawk was found on the spot with its head 

 cut completely off, and a snipe in its mouth, which, from the wounds at the back of 

 the head, had evidently been killed by the former, and being too heavy, prevented the 

 hawk's flying with its wonted rapidity, and thus was the cause of its death also. — Lei- 

 cester Chronicle, March 28. 



Female Kestril devouring a male. Having related in your May number (Zool. 936) 

 a case of conjugal cannibalism in the kestril, I feel it due to the males of that species 

 to state facts which have since been related to me, and which prove that in that re- 

 spect the sexes are " six of the one and half-a-dozen of the other." A pair of kestrils 

 in confinement having been left without their supper, the male was killed and devour- 

 ed by the female before morning. — /''. Holme. 



