Birds. 2595 



paces, and had enjoyed every opportunity of seeing him to advantage : 

 he was in very fine condition, apparently in the plumage of the second 

 or third year. Unless he was much pressed by hunger, it would be 

 difficult to account for his tameness on this occasion ; for within a few 

 days we again met with him near the same spot, but he took good 

 care to keep beyond the range of our guns. A specimen, also in the 

 immature plumage, was shot a few years since near Henley-on- 

 Thames.— K. 



Red-footed Falcon [Falco rufipes). In the ' Zoologist' (Zool. 78) 

 there is a notice of a female of this species having been struck down 

 by a raven in Littlecote Park, near Hungerford, Berkshire. The above 

 fact was communicated by our highly talented friend, Mr. Frederick 

 Holme, of Corpus Christi College, Oxford. The bird itself was in 

 his possession, and we have often heard him recount the singular 

 story of its capture. 



Peregrine Falcon {Falco peregrinus) . Is not unfrequently met with 

 in this part of the kingdom : we have ourselves shot them near this 

 place, and often been surprised at the regularity with which — though 

 frequently disturbed — they will return to the same spot to roost for 

 several weeks together. Some years ago we observed a flock of tame 

 pigeons hastening home at a very rapid pace from a feeding excur- 

 sion, and flying, at that time, not more than one yard from the ground. 

 They had just cleared the last fence, and were within a hundred and 

 fifty yards of the dove-house, when a peregrine stooped with fearful 

 velocity among them : having missed its quarry it rose again almost 

 perpendicularly, and with undiminished speed, and again stooped be- 

 fore the pigeons could gain their retreat : it was this time also unsuc- 

 cessful, but we can never forget the amazing power of wing which it 

 exerted during the attack. We once saw a large female peregrine 

 gallantly defending the remains of a partridge against the combined 

 attack of two carrion crows. 



Kite [Milvus vulgaris). A few years ago the kite was so common 

 in Oxfordshire that occasionally two or more might be seen at the 

 same time about its favorite haunts. It has now become very scarce. 



Common Buzzard [Buteo vulgaris). Occasionally killed in this 

 neighbourhood. 



Rough-legged Buzzard [Buteo Lagopus). A pair of this fine spe- 

 cies was in the habit of frequenting our neighbourhood for many 

 weeks in the winter of 1825, attracted, it was thought, by the snipes, 

 which abound at that season in some marshy ground near the village. 

 Over this spot the buzzards might often be seen, generally soaring in 



