A HISTORY OF DEVONSHIRE 



and night heron. Of birds of accidental occurrence there are 56 species, 

 about two-thirds of which have only occurred once or twice. The 

 American white-winged crossbill and yellow-billed cuckoo have been 

 found dead on the coast, each on a single occasion. They are not 

 admitted into the British list by Mr. H. Saunders, and are therefore not 

 enumerated. Three introduced species are included, viz. pheasant, 

 red-legged partridge and mute swan, but the Egyptian and Canada geese 

 and the summer or wood duck, not being completely naturalized, are 

 excluded, as is also the collared turtle dove, which has bred in a wild 

 state near Plymouth. 



The following 24 species have been recorded as occurring in the 

 county either altogether erroneously or upon insufficient evidence, or 

 were introduced and escaped, and are therefore not admitted : — 



Great Reed-Warbler Iceland Falcon Baillon's Crake 



Savi's Warbler Goshawk Little Ringed Plover 



Pine Grosbeak Great White Heron Killdeer Plover 



Calandra Lark Buffle-headed Duck Spotted Sandpiper 



Short-toed Lark Harlequin Duck Yellowshank 



Great Black Woodpecker Hooded Merganser Roseate Tern 



Eagle Owl Red Grouse Sooty Tern 



Golden Eagle Ptarmigan Great Auk 



There is a considerable difference between the ornis of the northern 

 and southern portions of Devon, probably, in great measure, owing to 

 the obstacle which the high land of Dartmoor interposes to the progress 

 northwards of stragglers from the continent. No less than 46 species 

 have occurred in south Devon which have not yet been observed in 

 north Devon, but many of these birds were accidental visitors, and have 

 occurred only once or twice. Some species amongst the geese, ducks, 

 terns and skuas are of more frequent occurrence in south than in north 

 Devon. On the other hand 9 species which have been observed in north 

 Devon and Lundy Island have not yet been noticed in the south of the 

 county, viz. twite, alpine swift, spotted eagle, ruddy sheld-duck, red- 

 crested pochard, cream-coloured courser, and three American sandpipers ; 

 and in some localities bird-life is much more in evidence than in the 

 south. In the eastern portion of the county a few species occur that are 

 little known in the west, like the redstart and nightingale, and some 25 

 or 30 Atlantic birds and wanderers from the south have only been obtained 

 in the south-western part of the county, and others are much more 

 plentiful there than in eastern Devon. 



Unusually fine dry summers and autumns are always distinguished 

 by the number of wading birds occurring, both as species and individuals. 

 Severe winters bring us many aquatic species, such as wild swans, never 

 seen at other times. Many birds come in flights at more or less distant 

 intervals of time, such as the crossbill, sand-grouse, quail, bittern, snowy 

 owl, rough-legged buzzard, osprey, ruddy sheld-duck, swans, godwits, 

 grey phalarope, terns, skuas, etc., their occurrence at other times 

 being rare. 



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