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pond. From its size we judged it to be a female ; the Falcon 

 in hawking parlance, as distinguished from the inferior Tiercel 

 (male). 



Its appearance so near London is not unusual, nor indeed 

 extraordinary, as the water fowl on a suburban lake would prove 

 a powerful attraction to a bird who thinks nothing of travelling 

 fifty miles to procure a breakfast (hence, of course, the name 

 Pevegrinus). It is, in fact, frequently asserted that these birds 

 never seek their prey in the vicinity of their own nests, and 

 certain it is that all sorts of smaller birds nest in safety along- 

 side them. 



52. — Kestrel (Falco Tinnunculus). 



A frequent visitor to " The Cedars' " grounds, sometimes 

 hovering close to " West Lodge," and preparatory, I always 

 hope, to a raid on the mice which swarm ; for although the 

 fields and woods harbour a multitude of semi-wild, half-starved 

 cats, those poaching quadrupeds appear to draw the line at mice. 



53. — Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Carbo). 



Certainly a very occasional visitor. Harry Witherby tells 

 me he once saw seven flying over the Heath. My single example 

 was on 9th April, 1901, and it flew slowly over "The Cedars'" 

 house. 



54. — Heron (Ardea Cinerea). 



Another occasional visitor, although much more friendly 

 disposed than the Cormorant ; in fact they often pay us a visit, 

 confining themselves, however, to the pond. On 11th October, 

 1902, I saw one halfway up the field with our white-fronted 

 geese. 



Dr. Staples, whose house overlooks the pond, says his 

 children often see one there. On 25th April, 1900, a pair flew 

 over our heads during a most exciting hockey match on " The 

 Cedars' " ground. 



55. — White-fronted Goose (Anser Albifrons). 



On 12th July, 1899, I took six down to " The Cedars' " 

 pond. They were the descendants of a pair F. Penn bought at 

 Leadenhall Market, and took to Benacre. They live very 



