Birds. 5199 



Oxyacanthae. Whether this distinction is one which will be generally 

 adopted, yet remains to be seen. 



H. T. Stainton. 

 Mountsfield, Lewisham, 

 July, 1856. 



A List of the Birds of Banffshire, accompanied with Anecdotes. 

 By Thomas Edward, Collector of and Dealer in Natural- 

 History Specimens at Banff. 



(Continued from page 5122). 



The Sparrowhawk (Falco nisus). This is another daring indivi- 

 vidual. When standing on our links, not very long since, and speak- 

 ing to one of our keepers, something struck me on the breast and fell 

 to the ground. Instantly, and like a flash of lightning, down rushed 

 a sparrowhawk, which, picking up a thrush from betwixt us, rose 

 again with his booty, and winged his aerial course in safely, and was 

 out of reach before either of us had time to attempt to arrest his pro- 

 gress, notwithstanding we had a gun each ready for action. Was 

 not this a daring fellow ? He well deserved to escape as he did, 

 although the keeper grumbled a good deal at our seeming stupidity. 

 On another occasion that came within my knowledge a sparrowhawk, 

 whilst passing the mansion-house of Eden, near this place, dashed 

 through a window at a canary bird hanging in a cage, and succeeded 

 in killing the little favourite before assistance could reach the mur- 

 derous scene, although several individuals, attracted by the falling 

 fragments of glass and the screams of the poor sufferer, were almost 

 instantly on the spot. It is almost needless to add that hawky paid 

 the penalty. 



The Kestrel [Falco Tinnunculus). This mouse-, insect- and cater- 

 pillar-eating bird, or hawk if you will, is one of the commonest of the 

 tribe with us. It is miscalled the sparrowhawk here by most people, 

 gamekeepers and all ; the term kestrel being seldom, if ever, applied. 

 I remember, when a boy, keeping, amongst a host of others, several 

 of this species ; I also recollect that when a mouse, a young rabbit, a 

 leveret, or a middle-sized rat, and a bird were presented at the same 

 time, either of the former were sure to be pounced upon, whilst the 

 latter invariably lay unheeded. Since then, and during about thirty 

 years of taxidermal practice, having in that time preserved a good 



