300 
BIRDS PECULIAR TO THE MOOR. 
and by its harsh note adding to the dreariness of 
the scene, the Stonechat and the Ring Ouzel, or per¬ 
chance a Buzzard hovering aloft, is not very unlike 
the sudden changes experienced by that adventurer 
and which he so touchingly describes,—at one time 
surrounded by hundreds of beautiful birds, enliven¬ 
ing by their actions and notes the thick groves, 
then situated in a trackless desert, and guided only 
on his way by the harsh note of a duck flying at a 
great height in quest of some rock which might 
happily contain water in its basins. 
The arid and remote portions of the Moor are 
frequented by only a few birds, never found (or but 
rarely and at certain times) in the southern and 
cultivated districts. The Eagles and birds of that 
kind are generally however partial to remote spots, 
or restricted to them by our interference. The 
Golden Eagle , if still a Devon bird, must be account¬ 
ed as in some measure peculiar to Dartmoor, though 
most of this kind roam to immense distances at 
certain periods. The Sea Eagle has been seen 
both on Dartmoor and frequenting cultivated land, 
and has likewise been captured at the Eddy stone. 
The Goshawk , Kite , and Honey Buzzard may be 
considered almost confined to Dartmoor; the first 
however has been met with on the coast, and the 
last at Slap ton Ley. The Short-eared Owl has 
been killed both on Dartmoor and Exmoor, but 
seems to be very rare and to confine itself to open 
and remote spots. The Black Grouse, Little Bustard, 
Thick-kneed Plover, and the various waders before 
named as most likely breeding on the moors, to¬ 
gether with the Great Bustard and Crane (if they 
be still resident in the county) must be considered 
in some degree peculiar to Dartmoor, though they 
are all constrained on the occasion of severe 
weather to seek shelter and food in the cultivated 
parts. 
