BIRDS 



An example is mentioned in the supplement 

 to Montagu's Ornithological Dictionary as 

 having been seen and shot at, in north Devon, 

 in 1808. Dr. E. Moore says that one pro- 

 cured at Plymouth was sent to Mr. Drew for 

 preservation. Another occurred at Ashburton 

 in 1809, according to Dr. Tucker. Bellamy 

 mentions one that was shot not far from 

 Yealmpton. Specimens from Downes, near 

 Crediton, in October 1851, and Torquay 

 about September 1890, were probably im- 

 ported birds. 



119. Snowy Owl. Nyctea scandiaca (Linn.) 

 An accidental visitor of very rare occur- 

 rence. A specimen was killed near Plymouth 

 in December 1838, and was originally in the 

 collection of Dr. Cornelius Tripe of Devon- 

 port, and at the sale of his collection in i860 

 passed into the possession of the Rev. W. 

 Hore, who bequeathed it with the rest of his 

 mounted birds to Mrs. Connop of Bradfield 

 Hall. On 13 March 1876, the weather 

 being very cold, a snowy owl was seen at 

 Ditsworthy rabbit warren, and was shot by 

 a little boy eight years of age, the grandson of 

 the warrener. Another snowy owl occurred 

 about ten days later on Exmoor and was 

 trapped. A specimen in the Albert Memorial 

 Museum at Exeter is said to have been 

 obtained atExmouth sometime prior to 1851. 

 The tail feathers are much soiled and worn. 

 A tarso-metatarsal bone of this owl was 

 obtained from Kent's Cavern, Torquay. 



[A hawk owl {Surnia fumrea) is supposed 

 to have been seen by Captain J. N. Still of 

 Slade, Knoyle, Wilts, at Musbury, in east 

 Devon at the end of August or the beginning 

 of September 1869.] 



[Dr. Edward Moore includes the eagle 

 owl {Buho ignavus) in his lists of Devonshire 

 birds, and states that he had seen one in a 

 living state near Honiton in 1 820, but does 

 not mention whether it was in captivity or 

 wild.] 



120. Marsh - Harrier. Circus aruginesus 



(Linn.) 

 Locally, Moor-Buzzard. 

 At one time a very common resident, 

 especially on Dartmoor where it formerly 

 nested, but now a very rare casual visitor in 

 autumn. Up to 1850 it was not uncommon 

 about rabbit warrens on Dartmoor, but soon 

 after that year it became almost extinct in 

 Devonshire. One frequented the Barnstaple 

 river about 1857. A male in the second 

 year's plumage was killed at Slapton Ley on 

 I November 1875, whilst in the act of taking 

 a coot. A pair frequented a valley near 



Musbury in September 1876, An adult 

 male was shot on Braunton Marshes on 

 3 November 1890. It is said to have been 

 an occasional visitor to Lundy Island. 



121. Hen-Harrier. Circus cyaneus (Linn.) 

 Locally, Blue Hawk, Vuzz Kit or Furze Kite. 



This is another species that was formerly an 

 abundant resident, breeding commonly in the 

 neighbourhood of the moors, but it is now 

 like the preceding species only a rare casual 

 visitor, generally in the autumn and winter. 

 Adult males are very seldom met with. Mr. 

 Bragg of Furlong near Chagford has in his 

 possession a female hen-harrier, together with 

 her nest and four eggs, which he obtained 

 from Tor Hill in the parish of Throwleigh 

 about 1 86 1. This is probably the last 

 instance of this hawk breeding in Devonshire, 

 though a pair were killed near Chagford in 

 1 87 1. The most recent instances of the 

 occurrence of the hen-harrier in the county 

 are a female on Black Hill near Exmouth 

 in January 1888 ; another female near 

 Exmouth in 1900 ; and one at Heanton near 

 Barnstaple in December 1889. 



122. Montagu's Harrier. Circus cineraceus 



(Montagu) 

 A casual visitor, occurring not unfrequently 

 in all parts of the county, but more especially 

 in the south-western part of Dartmoor and 

 the Kingsbridge district. It is usually seen 

 in spring and summer, and has been known to 

 breed in the county on several occasions. It 

 does not appear to have been met with in 

 Devonshire later in the year than the month 

 of October. Its food consists principally of 

 lizards and small birds' eggs. A black variety 

 has occurred several times in Devon. Colonel 

 Montagu first discriminated between this 

 species and the hen-harrier in 1802. 



123. Buzzard. Buteo vulgaris. Leach. 

 Locally, Kit, Kitt or Keat, Black Kite, Eagle. 



Resident, and still not uncommon about 

 the cliiFsofthesea-coasts, in wild uncultivated 

 localities, and in wooded districts throughout 

 the county. It is however most plentiful in 

 autumn and spring, when there are migratory 

 movements from other countries, small parties 

 of three to five being often seen in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the south coast, Dartmoor and 

 Exmoor. It nests annually in several localities 

 in the county, both on the coasts and inland. 

 Pure white, bufF-coloured and entirely black 

 varieties have occurred. 



124. Rough-legged Buzzard. Buteo lagopus 



(J. F. Gmelin) 

 A casual visitor during the winter months 



3" 



