BIRDS 



junr., in June 1882, at Rousdon near Lyme 

 Regis, and one, apparently an immature 

 specimen, was shot on Lundy Island 21 

 March 1903. 



131. Peregrine Falcon. 

 Tunstall, 



Falco peregrinus. 



Locally, ClifF-Hawk, Blue Hawk. 



A well known resident, not uncommon and 

 rather on the increase, though subject to 

 unceasing persecution. It is met with 

 throughout the county, especially on the sea- 

 coasts, and a celebrated white-chested race has 

 occupied Lundy Island from time immemorial. 

 There are many eyries known both on the 

 north and south coasts. 



132. Hobby. Falco subbuteo, Linn. 



A summer migrant now unfortunately not 

 often seen. A few pairs probably still nest 

 annually in the woods on the borders of 

 Dartmoor, but the young are ruthlessly 

 destroyed by gamekeepers, and there seems to 

 be but little chance of this beautifiil little 

 falcon ever increasing in numbers again. It 

 has been known to occur as early as March, 

 and to remain as late as October in the south- 

 western part of the county. 



133. Merlin. Falco asalon, Tunstall. 



Locally, Little Blue Hawk. 



An autumn and winter visitor not of very 

 frequent occurrence. Arrives generally about 

 the middle of September, remaining as late as 

 March. It is rarely seen in summer, but one 

 was observed on Dartmoor near the North 

 Teign on 30 July 1895. The merlin is 

 believed to have nested on Exmoor. 



134. Red-footed Falcon. Falco vespertinus 



(Linn.) 



Two adult examples, both males, of this 

 beautiful African falcon are said to have been 

 procured near Plymouth, one in March 1837, 

 and the other about 1862. Both specimens 

 were in the collection of J. Pincombe, the 

 well known dealer in birds at Devonport. 

 The first was brought to him by a sailor, and 

 was said to have been taken on board a vessel 

 near the Plymouth breakwater. The other 

 was stated to have been shot at Wembury 

 CliiFs, where a female was also seen. Another 

 specimen said to have been killed in Devon 

 was in the collection of the late Mr. Marsh- 

 Dunn of Teignmouth. None of these 

 occurrences are satisfactorily authenticated. 

 This falcon has however occurred several 

 times in Cornwall. 



135. Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus, Linn. 

 Locally, Wind-fanner, Windhover, Criss or 



Crasset Hawk. 



Next to the sparrow - hawk, the ' wind- 

 hover ' is the commonest of our birds of prey. 

 In the autumn many arrive on passage south. 

 Our resident birds nest on the cliffs all along 

 the sea-coasts, on the sides of quarries and on 

 some of the Dartmoor tors. 



136. Osprey. Pandion haliaHus (Linn.) 

 Locally, Harriot (according to Polwhele), 



No example of this fine bird appears to 

 have occurred since the autumn of 1875, 

 when quite a flight seems to have visited 

 Devonshire, and specimens were obtained on 

 the Teign, Dart, Avon, Tamar and Taw. 

 Up to the middle of the last century the 

 osprey was well known on the estuaries of 

 the larger rivers, especially in the south of 

 the county, being seen at all times of the 

 year, but generally in spring and autumn. 

 It is stated by Polwhele to have bred on a 

 pinnacle of the cliffs at Beer in the eighteenth 

 century, and also on the clifis of the north 

 Devon coast. There was an eyrie at Gan- 

 net's Combe on Lundy Island, where a pair 

 bred as lately as 1838, in which year the 

 male was shot and the female disappeared 

 never to return. 



137. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo {LAnn.) 



Locally, Shag, Topsham Pilot, Isle of Wight 

 Parson 



An abundant resident on all the Devon- 

 shire coasts, breeding on the cliffs of the 

 coasts and frequenting the estuaries of the 

 larger rivers, and often following the course 

 of the streams far inland. Up till very re- 

 cently thirty or more cormorants might be 

 seen at a time on the sandbanks in the 

 estuary of the Exe, drying their half-open 

 wings in the wind. The Exe Board of 

 Conservators have however lately (Febru- 

 ary 1902) offered dd. (since increased to 

 15.) a head for their destruction, and 

 their numbers have been greatly reduced, 

 about 250 having, been returned as killed 

 within the first ten months in the Report 

 of the Conservators. The old birds were 

 ruthlessly destroyed on their nests on the 

 cliffs between Exmouth and Ladram Bay. 

 The Dart Fishery Board are about to follow 

 suit, and it seems probable that this species 

 and the next will soon be driven away from 

 the south coast. They are specially excluded 

 from the provisions of the Wild Birds Pro- 

 tection Acts, and may be killed at any time 

 of the year owing to the great destruction of 

 fish they accomplish. On 15 June 1883 



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