378 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



are colonies of the two former species in suitable places all round 

 the island, but in numbers the Herring- Gulls are superior, 

 though to no very great extent. At the time of my visit the 

 birds had just commenced laying. The Greater Black-backed 

 Gull is much rarer, and I never saw more than four or five 

 together. There are probably not more than six or seven pairs 

 of these fine birds on Lundy, where, I am told, they usually 

 select one of the rocky islets on which to place their nests. 



I frequently saw one or two Common Buzzards (Buteo 

 vulgaris), but could not be sure that there were more than one 

 pair on the island. From the behaviour of the birds, I was con- 

 vinced that there was a nest on the face of a certain cliff, though 

 I was unable to locate it exactly. This species is happily still 

 fairly common in North Devon, and early in April last year I 

 saw no fewer than eleven during a day's ramble along the cliffs. 

 On more than one occasion three could be seen on the wing at 

 the same time. 



But to return to Lundy. I noticed that Kestrels were fairly 

 common, and I discovered the eyrie of a pair of Peregrines 

 (Falco peregrinus) by accidentally startling the Falcon from the 

 face of a steep cliff. She was quickly joined by her mate, and 

 the two birds circled above my head, keeping up a continuous 

 chattering cry as long as I remained in the neighbourhood of 

 their stronghold. Another pair had, I think, established them- 

 selves at the opposite end of the island near the Shutter 

 Rock. This Falcon may often be seen on the Devon coast 

 opposite Lundy, and a pair can frequently be observed on Baggy 

 Point. 



A pair or two of Ravens (Corvus corax) are said to nest on 

 Lundy, but by the time of my visit (early in May) they would 

 probably have taken off their young, and I only noticed a single 

 bird. This bird still nests on many of the bold rocky headlands 

 of the North Devon coast. 



Some years ago, it is said, a feud broke out between the 

 Peregrines and Ravens on Lundy, and one of the aerial conflicts 

 which were continually taking place ended in disaster to one of 

 the Ravens, which, failing to elude the Falcon's fatal " stoop," 

 was struck down into the sea and drowned. I have noticed that 

 wherever these two species nest in close proximity, duels in mid- 



