THE BIRDS OF SCILLY. 299 



end of October, 1863 ; one was killed on St. Mary's in October, 

 1871, and one at Tresco by Joe White in April, 1886. A bird of 

 this species, in immature plumage, was watched for some time 

 at Tresco, beating likely spots for game along the reedy margin 

 of the Abbey Pool on the afternoon of the day on which the great 

 flight of Larks already described came to an end (Oct. 12th, 

 1903). Up till about 1875 female Hen-Harriers were to be met 

 with almost every year, though only one single male had been 

 shot. During the last twenty-five years the species has only 

 once been obtained, namely, in May, 1888, though it was 

 evidently seen by David Smith in June, 1902. Montagu's 

 Harrier was first recorded from the islands in April, 1852, when 

 three were shot. It does not appear to have been obtained 

 again till 1868, but during the seventies it occurred almost every 

 year either in immature or in adult plumage. It is still an 

 occasional visitor, chiefly in spring, and one was seen on St. 

 Martin's on April 9th, 1903. The Common Buzzard is a fairly 

 regular passing migrant in the autumn, usually in pairs, but 

 sometimes singly. In the third week in October, 1903, two pairs 

 were on the islands at one time. F. E. Eodd says this is not 

 uncommon, but he has never seen or heard of a greater number. 

 A pair was seen in December, 1876, but their occurrence during 

 winter is very unusual. No Eagles have so far been observed at 

 Scilly, but there is a tradition of a White-tailed Eagle having 

 been seen near the Seven Stones in 1835. In the copy of 

 Carew's ' Survey,' already referred to, the unidentified naturalist 

 writes : — "My boatman and two other fishermen saw a few years 

 ago a very large bird of prey at the Seven Stones, which they 

 speak of as a Golden Eagle, but I feel satisfied myself that it 

 was a Sea-Eagle, and their description has left no doubt in my 

 mind that this was the bird they saw." The Sparrow-Hawk 

 comes over singly or in pairs with the autumn flights of Larks 

 and Starlings, and more frequently in November than with the 

 first-comers in October. It may often be seen about the reed- 

 beds on Tresco, among which the Starlings roost. As in the 

 case of the Buzzard, its occurrence in winter is unusual. All 

 the specimens handled or seen from a short distance have been 

 birds of the year. A solitary specimen of the Kite was shot on 

 Tresco, Sept. 9th, 1890, and one of the Honey Buzzard by 



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