NOTES AND QUERIES. 237 



over the ground across our line. I noticed it had spaces in its wings, 

 as though it had been shot at. This was remarked on by several 

 riders, but it might have been in moult. A pair of Peregrine Falcons 

 nested in some woods on the edge of the moor last year. The Buzzard 

 is not infrequently to be seen on Dartmoor. They are known to nest 

 in several places, and seem to hold their own pretty well. I have 

 recently paid three visits to Wembury Cliffs, one of the breeding 

 stations of the Gulls, about six miles from Plymouth. I was glad to 

 see a pair of Eavens still there. They have bred in these cliffs from 

 time immemorial. There are five young just fledged. So far as I 

 could see, the eggs were hatched towards the end of March. The nest 

 is built in an inaccessible position, unlike last year's, which could be 

 easily reached. I saw the remains of this nest. The birds appear to 

 use one nest one year, and the other the next. I also saw Rock-Pigeons 

 fly out on all three occasions, as well as a pair of Kestrels, and a local 

 man showed me where they nest. The positions seem pretty secure. 

 He also showed me a Fox's earth in these cliffs. He stated that they 

 swim across the Eiver Yealm from the big woods on the opposite side, 

 and one year he secured three cubs, and transferred them to the moor, 

 where they could be better hunted. A pair of Ravens also nest at 

 Rame Head, on the Cornish side of the entrance to Plymouth Sound, 

 and another pair can always be seen about Trowlesworthy Tor, though 

 I failed to find their nest. — H. P. 0. Cleave (18, Leigham Street, 

 Plymouth) . 



Winter Ornithological Notes from Barnstaple. — 



Nov. 20th, 1905. — Frosty. Redwings very numerous near the 

 town ; hundreds can be seen throughout the winter in Acland Woods, 

 and towards evening these numbers are increased by others coming in 

 to roost from all directions in parties of from three to thirty. They 

 make a pleasing chattering noise, and occasionally utter several flute- 

 like notes, as if half inclined to sing. 



Nov. 22nd. — This winter I have seen the following birds with only 

 one leg apiece :— Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Peewit, Coot, Rook, Black- 

 headed Gull, and Curlew. The first three of these all lopped about by 

 themselves alone, but once or twice I noticed the Dunlin with a mate 

 trotting about with it. 



Nov. 26th. — A flock of Siskins, with a few Lesser Redpolls, feeding 

 on the alders at Venn Quarry. They all disappeared in a few days. 

 The Siskin is not very common in North Devon. 



Dec. 17th. — Snipe and Wigeon very numerous in the marshes. 



Dec. 18th. — Observed a Cormorant on the topmost branch of a tall 



