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BIRDS OF THE DERBYSHIRE PEAK. 



F. B. WHITLOCK, 



Nottingham. 



Having repeatedly visited various parts of the Peak during the last 

 four or five years, for the purpose of observing its birds, I think I can 

 lay before the readers of the Naturalist a fair account of what species 

 are to be found there. 



In general appearance, with the exception of the Buxton and 

 Kinder Scout mosses, all parts of the Peak have much in common — 

 high rolling moorlands covered with heather, bilberry, and cloudberry, 

 or steep green hills with narrow, rocky, and wooded valleys lying 

 between them, most of the valleys, or dales as they are usually 

 called, having pretty trout streams flowing through them ; large 

 woods are the exception, but in parts, as at Buxton, there are a good 

 many smaller plantations, usually of a mixed growth. 



Kinder Scout, about 2,100 feet high, is the principal mountain; 

 it consists of a large table-land, the surface of which is covered with 

 very spongy peat, into which one sinks to the knees. The peat 

 through the action of rain-water is cut up into innumerable islands, 

 on which heather and a little bilberry struggle for existence. Bird 

 life on this wide stretch of country is extremely scarce, the only 

 species I noticed being one or two Meadow Pipits and a solitary 

 Swift and Swallow. On the steep sides of the Scout, however, the 

 heather and bilberry and various ferns and plants flourish ; here bird 

 life is more common, the Red Grouse, Ring Ousel, and a few smaller 

 birds being frequently seen. 



The Buxton mosses are similar to the summit of Kinder Scout, 

 but have not such a barren or dead-level appearance. The heather 

 is more luxuriant, and Grouse and Ring Ousels may be found on any 

 part of them. Having said so much of the general appearance of 

 the Peak, I will commence my list with the 



Merlin. Several pairs of Merlins breed in the neighbourhood of the 



Scout, but I think the young seldom get off. 

 Peregrine Falcon. A gentleman described to me a large hawk 



which he killed while Grouse shooting, which I have little doubt 



was of this species. 

 Kestrel. Fairly common ; breeds both in trees and on rocks 



throughout the Peak. 

 Sparrowhawk. Not so common as the Kestrel, but may be found 



wherever there are woods. 

 Rough-legged Buzzard. Occasionally occurs. A gamekeeper told 



me he shot one not long since. According to Mr. Seebohm 



they pass over this part of Derbyshire pretty regularly. 



Naturalist, 



