BIRDS 



Devonshire is a well defined and natural ornithological district, 

 differing in many respects from any other part of the British Islands, and 

 its fauna possesses distinctive features which distinguish it from that of 

 Somerset adjoining it on the north-east and Dorset on the east, and in a 

 minor degree from that of Cornwall on the west. On the whole 

 however, Cornwall, Devon and the western part of Somerset are closely 

 allied in character, and as they together form the south-western peninsula 

 of England they all partake of the peculiar conditions which their unique 

 geographical position confers upon them, lying as they do between the 

 Bristol and English Channels, and jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean. 

 Devonshire forms the central and broadest part of this peninsula and 

 with Cornwall possesses both a north and south coast, a conformation 

 that has a great influence on its avifauna, as its coasts receive visitors 

 arriving by several of the great routes of migration from the north, south 

 and east, whilst its proximity to the continent on the south, and to the 

 Atlantic on the west, adds many rare stragglers to swell the number of 

 species which can be claimed as occurring within its limits. 



Devonshire has moreover a most diversified surface : bleak, barren, 

 elevated moorlands ; steep, rugged sea-coasts; sand-hills; extensive muddy, 

 tidal estuaries ; fresh-water ' leys ' ; deep, sheltered ' combes ' and wooded 

 valleys ; cultivated fields surrounded by timbered and leafy hedgerows, 

 and much pasture land. Attractions are thus afforded to birds of varied 

 habits, and though modern improvements and increased population have 

 driven away from some parts many birds which a century ago abounded, 

 others have increased in numbers, and some species formerly unknown 

 have been recognized as visiting us more or less frequently. 



In the subjoined list of Devonshire birds, the arrangement and 

 nomenclature followed are those adopted by Mr. Howard Saunders in 

 the second edition of his Manual of British Birds. Of the 294 species 

 enumerated 83 may be classed as residents and 31 as regular summer 

 migrants, giving a total of 1 1 4 annual breeders within the limits of the 

 county, including Lundy Island, where some species of sea birds breed 

 that are not found nesting elsewhere in Devonshire. Of winter visitors 

 there are 38, and visitors on migration in autumn and spring 17. Of 

 these 9 species are occasional breeders. Birds of casual occurrence 

 number 67, and of them 9 are occasional breeders, viz. lesser white- 

 throat, bearded tit, golden oriole, pied flycatcher, crossbill, hooded 

 crow, hoopoe, wryneck and Montagu's harrier ; whilst 8 others that 

 formerly bred in Devon do so no longer, viz. : Dartford warbler, 

 marsh-harrier, hen-harrier, white-tailed eagle, kite, osprey, little bittern 



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