SOME CHANGES IN THE COUNTY ORNIS. 3 
The “kitt,’ or “keet,” as Devonians used to and still do 
call the buzzard, was not so very, very long ago the com- 
monest of our hawks, and these birds were so numerous 
and intrusive that rewards were given by the churchwardens 
of parishes for their destruction. We see the result now, 
after years of incessant persecution, in a few pairs breeding 
in isolated spots in the cliffs or woods. 
Where, too, are the visits of those skeins of geese, which 
we can quite remember hearing about as occurring on the 
estuary and leys? We have to be content now with a few 
stragglers, whilst the main flocks pass on, scared by the ever- 
increasing traffic on water and mere, and by the watchfulness 
of the ubiquitous pot-hunter. 
Whatever the cause, it is no less a fact that our larger 
birds of prey have disappeared, never to return in their 
wonted numbers; and the same may be said of the larger 
wild fowl, legislate we never so wisely. 
Again, who has not noticed the sad diminution in numbers 
of our loveliest little songster—the goldfinch? Is it merely 
a coincidence that, with improved cultivation and closely- 
cropped hedges, which suffer not even a thistle to seed, this 
species has become so scarce ? 
As an example, bearing on the food supply determining 
the existence of a species in any locality, may be instanced 
what has taken place in what was certainly the finest 
heronry in the South Hams. Ten years ago we visited the 
heronry in Halwell Woods, and found more than thirty 
nests. This year there are twelve only; and, on seeking 
a cause for such a deplorable decrease—knowing the few 
shot on the estuary would not account for it—were led to 
make enquiries from the fishermen as to the supply of fish 
entering and existing in the tidal waters. The reply was 
sufficiently instructive and startling: ‘“ Hardly any now, as 
all the young fish are being constantly destroyed.” For 
some few years past a diminution has been noticed in the 
catches made by the nets, and no smelts or other fish are 
caught at the bridges, as in former years, the nets having 
to be content with the coarse fish caught in the deep pools 
near the mouth of the estuary. All the young fish are 
poisoned by meeting polluted water on running up on the 
young flood-tide, and sometimes may be seen strewing the 
mud in thousands. Here, then, is the possible reason why 
the herons have decreased—owing to a limited food supply. 
The Dartford warbler is another species which can no 
longer rank as a breeding species in the county, a few only 
