FOR THE PEOPLE
FOR EDVCATION
FOR SCIENCE

LIBRARY
OF

THE AMERICAN MUSEUM

OF

NATURAL HISTORY

BY GIFT OF
OGDEN MILLS

COLOURED MAINES

BP TRE

as5080 wy

IRD. LILFORD, vow cir
palmaiDan oF viet Bs vrinit pevrctonoinise! ONIOs.

7

: eres i isth Aten: ici

COLOURED FIGURES

OF THE

BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

ISSUED BY

ORD TE ORS BZ: Sree,

PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

VOLUME l.

LONDON:
R. H. PORTER, 7 PRINCES STREET, CAVENDISH SQUARE, W.

1885—1897.

24-93960-Jan4

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

TO MY FRIEND

ALFRED NEWTON,

PROFESSOR OF ZOOLOGY AND COMPARATIVE ANATOMY IN THE
UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE,

I DEDICATE THIS WORK

WITH

AFFECTION AND RESPECT.

LILFORD.
March, 1896.

+ qld

|

CONTENTS OF VOLUME: I.

Porrrart.

TITLEPAGE

DeEpDICATION

ConvrENTS

PREFACE

Norte

CouuaTion or Epirions
List of SUBSCRIBERS

List or PLares

PLates

Text .

.

XXV
XXVli
XXXVIL
I-LI.
1-112

PRE PACE:

Brine honoured by a request, from a quarter which
made compliance a duty as irresistible as it was
gratifying, that I should write a Preface to this work,
I feel I cannot do better than give some account of its
originator, who was for nearly forty-five years—though
with occasional breaks—one of my most constant, and,
I may add, most valued correspondents. Born in
Stanhope Street, Mayfair, on the 18th of March, 1833,
Tuomas Lirrueron Powys was the eldest son of
Thomas Atherton Powys, third Lord Lilford, and Mary
Elizabeth, only surviving daughter of Henry Richard
Fox, third Lord Holland, and Elizabeth Vassall his
wife—a couple sufficiently well known to all readers of
social or political history. On his father’s side I need
not trace his ancient ancestry further back than to Sir
Thomas Powys, who in 1686 was Solicitor-General to
James IJ., and in 1713 under Anne a Judge of the
Queen’s Bench, an office from which he was removed
on the accession of the House of Hanover. He then
retired to Lilford in Northamptonshire, an estate which,
with its fine Hall (one of the best examples of Jacobean

Vill PREFACE.

architecture that this country can shew), he had bought
a few years before, and there ended his days in 1719.
At a very early age Mr. Powys manifested that
affection for animals which intensified as time went on,
and this shewed itself in the way usual among school-
boys, so that at Harrow, whither he was sent, he was
not only a keen collector of zoological specimens, but
even kept a small menagerie, which (as he himself
told me) brought him more than once into trouble with
his masters. From Harrow was written his earliest
published note (Zoologist, page 2775), and there he
stayed until 1850, in which year he was placed with a
tutor at Geneva, with the result that he was the first
Englishman to give any information (op. cit. page 2968)
as to the breeding of the Rose-coloured Starling, though,
from what we now know, the instances of which he was
told by the Curator of the Museum at that place were
certainly abnormal. arly in May 1851 he left
Switzerland, and was entered at Christchurch, where he
speedily established a larger menagerie, which a few
months later comprised examples of nearly a dozen
species of Birds of Prey, beside other animals. He
continued contributing notes to ‘The Zoologist,’ and it
was one of these that, in 1852, led to our correspond-
ence, which, though slackening at times, was kept up
until his death. As became his youth, he was sanguine,
and, as became his nature, unsuspicious; it must there-
fore not be imputed as a fault to him, that then, and
even later, he accepted without hesitation much that

PREFACE. 1X

was told him as true but afterwards proved to be ficti-
tious. Indeed he, for many years, stoutly defended,
against my declared incredulity, the statement of a friend
who professed, with some circumstance, to have taken a
Shore-Lark on its nest near Exmouth”, and it was not
until toward the close of his life that he mournfully
owned that he had been deceived by his informant. I
record this incident not only because it was the be-
ginning of our intercourse, but because it was an early
istance of his characteristic fidelity to his friends.
During 1853 I had nearly a score of letters from him,
but though each shews his devotion to the field-study of
Bird and Beast, I am bound to say that not one contains
matter of general interest, for he usually wrote in haste,
and did not stay to describe his doings in Scilly, Wales,
or Ireland, all of which he visited for the purpose of
making personal acquaintance with their animals. In
the same year too he first met the late Edward Clough
Newcome, the best falconer of his day, whose example
was not lost upon Mr. Powys, for he subsequently
became a staunch member of the Old Hawking Club,
beside keeping a falconer and many Hawks of his own.
In 1854 he again passed some time in Ireland, but
soon after, on the outbreak of war with Russia, the
Militia was embodied, and he joined that of his county.
However a barrack-life, whether in Dublin or at

* So certain was he about it, that in 1853 my late brother
Edward went specially to the spot, where, it is needless to say, he
did not find any Shore-Larks; but there were Rock-Pipits.

Xx PREFACE.

Devonport, in which places he was chiefly quartered,
was hateful to him; and as leave of absence could be
often obtained, he availed himself of every opportunity
thereby afforded of visiting the wilder parts, and espe-
cially the coasts, of England, Wales, and Ireland. ‘To
his regret circumstances hindered him from accom-
panying his regiment to the Mediterranean, whither it
was sent in 1855, and toward the end of that year he
gave up his commission.

In February 1856 I first met Mr. Powys, to the
equal gratification, I think I may say, of each of us, as
well as of our friend Mr. Newcome, then living at
Hockwold Hall, where we were guests together; and
in the summer of that year Mr. Powys was able to put
into execution the idea he had long cherished of an
extended yacht-voyage to Southern Europe. Embark-
ing with a friend * on the ‘ Claymore,’ they touched at
various ports on the coast of Spain, making some stay
in the Balearic Islands, and visited Corsica and Sardinia.
He wrote to me m October of that year from Cagliari,
giving a long list of the birds he had seen alive or dead
during the cruise. ‘They thence sailed for Sicily, but
encountering a violent gale of wind, in which the yacht
received some damage, they had to put into Malta for
repairs. As the execution of these needed some time,
Mr. Powys betook himself to Tunis, where he passed
two months, enchanted with the zoological wealth of
the country and enjoying very fair sport. Thence he

* The Honourable Hercules Rowley.

PREPACE. XI

proceeded to the Ionian Islands, reaching Corfu on
Christmas Day 1856, and there he stayed “ off and on”
until July 1858, making frequent excursions for sport
or natural history to the opposite coast of Epirus or
Aiitolia, going even so far to the northward as Monte-
negro. ‘The results of this prolonged residence in those
parts were communicated by him to ‘The Ibis’ for
1860—the establishment of which journal he cordially
approved, joming the British Ornithologists’ Union so
soon as he heard of its intended formation—and while
they shew with what earnestness he entered into his
pursuits, undeterred by bad weather, fatigue, or sickness,
the same series of papers reveals in many a passage that
delicate and admirable humour which so markedly
distinguished him.

Leaving the Ionian Islands he proceeded to the
Sardinian dominions, being very desirous of shooting
an Ibex; but herein his hopes were mortified, for on
reaching Savoy he found that but a short time before
the chase of that animal had been forbidden to all but
the King (Victor Emmanuel), and leave even to look at
one was not to be obtained. He consequently had to
content himself with Chamois, whose acquaintance he
had already made in Thessaly, and subsequently with
the Moufflon in Sardinia. However he was not mean-
while without compensation ; for, by the beginning of
1859, he had become engaged to marry Emma Elizabeth,
the very beautiful daughter of Mr. Robert William
Brandling, of Low Gosforth in Northumberland, to

Xl PREFACE.

whom he had long been attached, and returning to
England shortly after, their wedding was celebrated in
the following June.

The next twelve menths were passed quietly, if not
at home at least not in foreign travel; but in little
more than a year his hereditary enemy, the gout—
which had shewn itself even while he was a schoolboy
at Harrow—laid hold upon him, and confining him to
the house for a time incapacitated him from the enjoy-
ment of field-sports. Meanwhile the aviary at Lilford
continued to grow, and at the end of October, 1860, he
was able to write to me :—

“T have taken to hawking, not yet with any striking
result except allowing a fine Goshawk to escape.
The Zoologist will probably present its readers with—
*On the keeper of — Ksq. of
Northamptonshire, shot a fine specimen of that rare
bird the Golden Eagle. Its tail is long, its eyes are
yellow. Mr. the well-known taxidermist of
pronounces it to be an adult male, efc. efc. etc.’—and
this will be my female Goshawk.”

Again at intervals he suffered from the same disease,
which was destined to mar the remainder of his life:
and a very severe attack supervening in the autumn of
1861, scon after the death of his father, when he suc-
ceeded to the family honours and estates, temporarily
disabled him from walking. Yet he was able to attend
the General Meeting of the British Ornithologists’
Union in London on the 11th of December, as well as
that of 1862, which was held at Cambridge on the 7th

PREFACE. xill

of October, during the Annual Meeting of the British
Association for the Advancement of Science. he
few survivors of those who were present can hardly
forget the spirit with which he entered into the pro-
ceedings of the ‘Thorough’ dinner at the Red Lion
Hotel in this town, under the presidency of Professor
Huxley, with Professor Kingsley as Vice-Chairman. It
would be out of place here to enter into details; but
the dinner was to celebrate the victory won, after a
hard-fought struggle, by the adherents of the principle
of Evolution over their opponents, who had manfully
disputed what now proved to be an _ untenable
position.

At the meeting of the British Ornithologists’ Union
held in London on the 20th of May, 1864, Lord
Litrorp not only proposed that a New Series of
‘The Ibis’ should be begun in the following year, but
undertook, on its being continued in its existing form,
to defray the cost of a plate in each number—a promise
that was more than literally fulfilled for the rest of his
life; and to that journal for 1865 he contributed an
excellent sketch of the ornithology of Spain, as observed
by himself in two visits, the first (as before mentioned)
in 1856, and the second in the early spring in 1864,
which confirmed the favourable impression he had
already formed as to the country and all that belonged
to it. To Englishmen Spanish Ornithology was a field
almost untrodden, and its fertility came to many as a
surprise ; yet on the former of these visits only a few

Xiv PREFACE.

ports had been touched, and his notes on the latter refer
to little more than Andalusia and the neighbourhood of
Valencia, though these districts are among the richest
in the peninsula. Spain, as he subsequently wrote, had
been the subject of his youthful dreams by day and
night, and, after his previous agreeable experience, it
was only natural that he should renew his attempt to
become better acquainted with it—indeed it may be
truly said that, to the end of his days, his interest in
cosas de Espana, and especially its ornithology, never
slackened. Accordingly in the spring of 1865 he
returned thither, accompanied by Lady Lilford, and this
time obtained leave to carry on his observations in the
grounds of the Casa del Campo and of El Pardo—royal
domains near Madrid,—as well as subsequently at
Aranjuez and Sotomayor. Thence he proceeded to
San Ildefonso and Segovia; but his hereditary enemy
pursued him, and for a great part of the time he was
unable to walk. The admirable narrative of his domgs
may be read, and always with delight, in ‘The Ibis’
for 1865 and 1866, and not a little contributed to
his election—by acclamation it may be said—to the
Presidency of the British Ornithologists’ Union, when,
on the 27th of March, 1867, it was resigned by Colonel
Drummond-Hay.

It has seemed advisable to dwell on these earlier days
of Lord Litrorp’s career, since they must be little
known to the ornithologists of the present time, and
in his efforts and example he was second to none in
obtaining for ‘The Ibis’ that high reputation which it

PREPACH, XV

so speedily acquired and has so long sustained. [is
enthusiasm never flagged, as his frequent communications
in later years testify; but his subsequent cruises in the
Mediterranean Sea (including three more visits to his
beloved Spain between 1866 and 1875), which made
him familiar with almost all the parts of its coast and
islands that were interesting to the ornithologist, and
extended to the shores if not the interior of Cyprus,
produced fewer novelties—the discovery in April 1879
of the most westerly breeding-place of Audouin’s Gull
being perhaps the chief of them.

These cruises did not, however, occupy the whole of
his time. Each recurring shooting-season found him
in this country, exercising hospitality either in his
Northamptonshire home or in Scotland, where he for
several years hired one of the finest deer-forests; and,
though often incapacitated by gout from taking to the
hills, he would listen with pleasure to his guests as they
recounted the varied events of the day’s work with gun,
rifle, or rod ; while, whenever his own condition per-
mitted, he proved himself as “game” a stalker, and as
successful, as if he had been in possession of the full use
of his limbs.

With all this devotion to sport he never allowed it to
interfere with the duties to which he was called by his
position, and of those duties he had an exalted idea.
Though he had little taste for politics, he did not neglect
duly to appear in his place in Parliament, and it was
with satisfaction that he used to recall his successful
addition of “Owl” to the Schedule of Birds to be

XVi PREFACE.

protected by law in the Bill of 1880, which subsequently
passed into an Act, especially as he was put to no little
personal inconvenience by attending the House of Lords
at that particular time. With him the protection then
first accorded to Owls, a fact overlooked by many recent
writers or speakers on the subject, was no question of
sentiment only. He knew, and no one better, how
beneficial Owls are to the farmer and the game-
preserver—though the latter will hardly ever admit it.
The course of life hitherto led had been only inter- ~
rupted occasionally by the malady to which he was
subject, but it was rudely broken in the autumn of 1882,
by the death, after a short illness, of his eldest son, who
had but recently attained his majority. This loss was
greatly taken to heart, and was followed within little
more than a year by a still heavier blow in the death of
Lady Lilford—a loss more felt now that he himself was
becoming a permanent invalid, some three or four acute
attacks of his insidious disease having begun to cripple
his hands and feet. In all this time and under all these
afflictions neither his kindliness nor his cheerfulness
forsook him. Both his letters and his conversation,
tinged as they were with grief, evinced his natural wit
and humour, brought perhaps into greater prominence
than before by their contrast with words, occasionally
let drop, that shewed how deeply his feelings had been
stirred. Yet there was no forced pleasantry, for a
man more free from affectation can scarcely have lived.
The real consolation was found when some time after

PREFACE. XVil

he married a dear and intimate friend of his deceased
wife, Clementina, daughter of the late Mr. Baillie-
Hamilton, whose intense devotion to her husband for
the rest of his life can be only reverently recorded and
not recounted.

In his own county was organized a Natural History
Society, of which he was not only the President, but the
mainstay, and to its ‘Journal’ he began, in 1880, to
contribute a series of papers on the Birds of North-
amptonshire, which were finally republished, with many
additions, in two volumes under that title only a short
time before his death. The generosity with which he
supported almost every scheme that made for the pro-
gress of Zoology might have been called Javish had it
not been tempered by discretion. Enough to say that
on a good case being made out his pecuniary help was
always forthcoming, and never stinted in amount. But
often he did not wait for a case to be brought to his
notice, and of himself would find opportunity and the
man for it. A notable instance of this subsequently
happened in regard to the zoology of Cyprus, which he
commissioned Dr. Henry Guillemard to investigate, with
results well known to readers of ‘The Ibis.’

As before said, Lord Litrorp’s interest in all that
concerned Spain never relaxed, and next to his own
country his sympathies lay with that whose language he
loved to study and speak. He hailed with pleasure the
appearance in 1887 of the ‘Aves de Espana’ by Don
José Arévalo, published in the Memoirs of the Royal

VOL. I. b

XVill PREFACE.

Academy of Sciences of Madrid. Indeed he himself
had at one time planned a work on the subject, and
went so far as to have some plates executed for its
illustration, which (on finding that he was never likely
to carry out the idea) he gave to Colonel Irby, his
old friend and companion in many an expedition, that
they might embellish the second and revised edition of
his useful ‘Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar,’ in
which they were published in 1895.

Long before this time, however, the scheme of the
present work occurred to Lord Litrorp. He had,
hanging on his walls or stored in portfolios, a number
of pictures of Birds by various artists, the contemplation
of which always afforded him pleasure, and even relief
when racked by pain. ‘That pleasure he thought should
not be confined to himself, and he was willing to put it
into the power of other lovers of Birds to possess, at a
comparatively moderate cost to themselves, whatever
might be the expense to him, portraits of their favourites.
The help of Mr. Wolf, whose works he justly held
in the highest admiration, was unhappily no longer
available, but with the services of Mr. Keulemans he
thought that most people might be content. Accordingly
arrangements were made with that artist for a series
of drawings, and the first part of the work appeared
towards the end of the year 1885—the plates being
chromolithographed in Berlin. As the distance of that
city caused a good deal of inconvenience, trial was made

PREPACK, xix

in several quarters to have them executed nearer home ;
but the result was not on the whole satisfactory, so that
eventually recourse was again had for the most part to
the Prussian capital, and certainly there is little fault to
be found with the work latterly turned out from Herr
Greve’s establishment. Gradually the artistic assist-
ance of Mr. Lodge, Mr, Neale, and Mr. Thorburn was
invoked, and the later portion of the work has been
illustrated wholly by a faithful reproduction of beautifully
finished pictures—hardly one of which is not a joy to
gaze on—by the accomplished gentleman last named.
As the plates were intended to be the main feature of
the work, the accompanying letterpress was at first of
the briefest. By degrees, however, the natural impulse
to dwell upon the interesting subjects depicted grew
irresistible, and im some instances particulars of the
several species figured were given at considerable length,
and generally from the writer’s own experience.

Ever since Lilford came into his possession, its
owner’s love of live animals kept on developing itself.
The stable-yard and adjoming courts and outhouses of
the old Hall were, one after another, brought into
requisition, and made to accommodate a vast assemblage
of beasts, birds, and reptiles, especial care being taken
to adapt their several quarters to the comfort of the
inhabitants. This consideration, too often neglected by
those who have the control of wvarza, was constantly
borne in mind by Richard Cosgrave, a faithful and assi-

duous attendant, whose morning report on the condition
b2

XX PREFACE.

of his charges was daily expected by his master. Place
was found, though at some distance from the house,
for the erection of large and commodious aviaries, the
tenants of which frequently testified to the suitability
of their lodging by matrimonial alliances, and possibly
there have been few establishments of the kind in which
the captives have to such an extent been tempted to
solace their imprisonment by indulging in the tender
passion. After a time, too, a large piece of water in
the park, with a wide border of shrubbery and turf, was
securely fenced in, and in this enclosure was maintained,
safe from the depredations of the well-known foxes of
Northamptonshire, one of the finest collections of living
Water-fowl—and especially of the Crane-family—that
has ever been formed. But this was not all: round
the house might be seen no small number of Birds
enjoying almost absolute freedom, from the mighty
Limmergeyer to the Little Owl, dear to Pallas Athena,
of which last several pairs nested in the hollow trees of
the gardens and park. Indoors were a few especial
favourites, of constitution too delicate to be exposed to
the weather, and among them the Zori//o, whose deep
note in the silent hours of the night would surprise the
unwary visitor, who had not thought the somewhat
meek-looking “ Button-Quail” capable of uttermg such
a terrible sound. Of late years the aviaries at Lilford,
with its beautiful gardens, became an object of great
public attraction, and access to them being readily
given, on at least one day in the week, the population of

PREFACH. Xx]

the neighbouring towns and villages availed itself largely
of this privilege

a privilege that year by year, through
the increase of his bodily infirmities, the owner of all
became less and less capable of enjoying. Yet when-
ever, and as often as, he could, he would be drawn in
his wheeled chair to one after the other of the cages or
pens, taking the closest interest in the individual
history of each denizen, and shewing that personal
knowledge of each that only belongs to those who have
a natural love of living animals.

In the earlier years of his presiding over the British
Ornithologists’ Union, and when that body was com-
paratively small in number, net only was Lord Litrorp
the friend of almost each member, but all were welcome
at ‘The Den,” as he termed some rooms he occupied
in London, and especially on the evenings of the Scientific
Meetings of the Zoological Society, when most of the
ornithologists present would adjourn to No. 6 Tenterden
Street, and there talk over their achievements and
their prospects, and generally cultivate one another’s
friendship. That these gatherings greatly promoted
the harmonious feelmg which then prevailed among
British ornithologists is unquestionable, and their dis-
continuance, owing chiefly to his inability to be present,
was much to be regretted. For several years he was
compelled to pass the winter at Bournemouth, and after
that he was never able to leave Lilford ; but wherever
he was he exhibited the same patience under his afflic-
tion and the same kindly consideration for his friends

Xk PREFACE.

and all about him. In 1894 the marriage of his elder
surviving son, John, the present Lord Lilford, gave him
great pleasure, which was increased in due time by the
birth of a grandson. During the spring of 1896 he
had several repeated attacks of his old malady, though
none of uncommon severity; but on the 17th of June,
in that year, an unexpected collapse closed the useful
and blameless life of which this is a very imperfect
sketch.

Though so long suffering from a painful hereditary
disease, he had the compensation of a genial hereditary
disposition. On the one side he was endowed with
social charms like those which won for his mother’s
great-uncle, Charles James Fox, the love of so many
friends; while on the other side to him clearly de-
scended the characteristic, expressed by the pen of
Matthew Prior, and still to be read on the monument
of his paternal ancestor (the first Sir Thomas Powys
of Lilford) in the transept of Thorpe Achurch, of being
“ possessed by a natural happiness.”

Cambridge, AVENE
Christmas 1897.

NGOMIEE:

A rew words seem necessary to explain my small share
in bringing this work to a conclusion.

When, on the lamented death of its originator, this
task was entrusted to me, I found that nearly the whole
of the Plates of the birds remaining to be figured were
in a more or less advanced state of preparation, some
finished, some with the lithographers, and on some the
artist was engaged. Moreover a list of the figures of
species as yet unissued was in the Publisher’s hands,
but no portion of the letterpress had been written. To
this list, which seems to have been mainly derived from
Col. Irby’s ‘ Key List of British Birds,’ I have adhered
very closely, concluding that the birds not named in it
were not intended to be figured. The only additions I
have ventured to make are the two Willow-Warblers
Phylloscopus viridanus and P. proregulus, which ap-
peared in England in the autumn of 1896, and Pro-
cellaria cryptoleucura, and no bird recorded since the
close of 1896 has been added.

Regarding the letterpress, it was obvious that to
attempt to compile any notes of the species on the

XXIV NOTE.

lines adopted by Lord Lilford himself in the later
parts of his work could not be satisfactory, and it
also seemed unadvisable to revert to the short notes of
the earlier parts. I therefore took a somewhat middle
course and confined my notes m each case to a brief
statement of the claims of each species to be considered
a British Bird and to a short summary of its external
geographical distribution.

Regarding the final systematic arrangement of the
work, I may add that in June 1895 Lord Lilford drew
up a rough list of the groups of British Birds placed in
the order in which he considered they ought to stand.
This list was submitted to me and a few suggested
alterations were accepted. The order of this list has
now been adopted, very slightly adjusted to admit
species that had been overlooked. It is, im many
respects, the order of the Fourth Edition of ‘ Yarrell’s
British Birds.’

In an Appendix to Volume VII. I have given a
List of Birds said to have occurred in the British
Islands, but of which no further mention will be
found in this work. No attempt is made to investigate
their respective claims to be included in the British
list.

O. S.

Hawksfold,
Fernhurst,
Christmas 1897.

COLLATION OF EDIT TONS:

Tuis Work was issued in two. Editions: the First commenced
October 1885, and the Second April 1891, both Editions ending simul-
taneously ; the Plates in Volume I. appeared as follows :—

1st Edition. 2nd Edition.
PART PART
1. Gonpmn Haaun........ xe Mar. 1889. XG Dee. 1891.
2. FF RS ae Zeca te XXV. Oct. 1893. XXIV. Oct. 1893.
3. Sporrpp HagLe ...... XXXI. June 1895. XXXI. June 1895.
4, Pe Ae ereeussnane XXV. Oct. 1893. XXV. Oct.. 1893.
5. ” OO! ho OOO ” ” ” ”
6. WHITE-TAILED or Sua- XVI. Sept. 1890. XVII. Noy. 1892.
EHaauer.
U 5 5 XIII. Mar. 1890. XII. June 1892.
See OSPREY of -as.c1'5 Siete aders XXXI. June 1895. XXXJI. June 1895.
9. Common BuzzarD .... XVII. Feb. 1891. XXII. June 1893.
10. RoveH-LuceEp Buzzarp, XIV. May 1890. XVI. Nov. 1892.
11. Honny-Buzzarp ...... XXVII. Dee. 1893. XXVI. Dec. 1893.
12. afi an roe es a 5 3
1B, IND 6 cloaseoacion oelae XI. Sept. 1889. XI. Feb. 1892.
14, Buaox Kirn.......... XIX. July 1891. XII. May 1892.
15. Gyr Fancon ........ XXX. Feb. 1895. XXX. Feb. 1895.
16. Iontanp Fancon ...... XXIX. Nov. 1894. XXIX. Nov. 1894.
We ae SM Ree ET yistats PA is - se
18. GREENLAND Fatcon .. XVII. Feb. 1891. XXII. June 1898.
19, PurncRine Fatcon .... XII. Jan. 1890. XXVIL. Aug. 1894.

20. ” ” 0.0020 ” ”

” ”

XxVl

21.
22.
23.
24,
25.
26,
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.

Al.

42.
43.
44,
45,
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51

HTOBBY eae

COLLATION OF

Rep-Frootnp FaLcon

Momriin....

” OM odocdodca

SPaRRow-HawkK ......

” ”

Haun-HArRIpR........
Montaau’s HARRIBR ..

”

bE

GRIFFON VULTURE ....
NuopHron or Eayprian

VULIURE.

Tawny, Brown, or
Woop-Owt.

39
TENGMALM’S
LonG-EARED

”
Owu
Own

SHORT-HARED OWL ....

Scors Own

Lirtitn Own
Hawx-Own
Syowy Own

. Barn-Own

eC

EDITIONS.

Ist Edition.

PART
III.
II.
XXVIII.

XVI.

XXY.
XXX.
XXIII.
XI.

”

I.
XII.
XVIII.
XIV.

Aug. 1886.
May 1886.
Dec. 1893.
Sept. 1890.
July 1891.
Sept. 1890.
Dec. 1892.
July 1891.

”

June 1887.
Jan. 1887.

”

”

May 1890.

»

Aug. 1892,
. Dee. 1893.
Nov. 1894.
Mar. 1898.

”

Sept. 1889.

Oct. 1893.
Feb. 1895.
Mar. 1893.
Sept. 1889.

?

Aug. 1886.

th}

Mar. 1890.
Apr. 1891.
May 1890.

2nd Edition.
PART
II. Apr. 1891.
Il. Ps
XXVI. Dec. 1893.
XVII. Noy. 1892.
XII. May 1892.
XVII. Noy. 1892.
XVIII. Dee. 1892.
XII. May 1892.
Vv. June 1891.
IV. Apr. 1891.
XVI. Noy. 1892.
XV. Aug. 1892.
XXVI. Dee. 1893.
XXIX. Noy. 1894.
XX. Mar. 1893.
”? ”
xo Feb. 1892.
XXIV. Oct. 1893.
XXX. Feb. 1895.
XX. Mar. 1893.
XI. Feb. 1892.
UI. Apr. 1891.
XIII. June 1892.
XIX. Feb. 18938.
XVI. Noy. 1892.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

H.M. THE KING

Prof. T. Ciirrorp Atueut, LL.D.,
F.R.S.

W.C. Autzn, Esq.

The Rev. H. F. Anuison, M.A.

Vicror Amts, Esq.

Sir Percy AnpeErson, K.C.M.G.
(the late).

The Hart or ANTRIM.

Frep. C. Arun, Esq.

R. D. Arcnzr-Hinp, Esq.

The Duxe or ARGYLL.

Mrs. Marx Asuton.

The Rev. Husert D.Astiry,M.A.

K. T. Argin, Esq.

J. Arxinson, Esq.

T. Aupas, Esq.

J. Backnouse, Hsq.

J.G. A. Barrp, Esq.

R. J. Barston, Esq.

Colonel Hansury Barcuay.

Hueu G. Barcuay, Esq.

T. J. Barrart, Esq.

R. M. Barrineron, Esq.

B. F. Barton, Esq.

OF PORTUGAL.

Watter Bates, Esq.

P. Brarcrort, Esq.

W. J. Beaumont, Esq.

The Rev. W. Becuer, M.A.

Joun W. Bett, Esq.

A. E. Brtuarrs, Esq.

W. Beruett, Esq.

Messrs. Bickers & Son.

Colonel J. Broputen.

KE. Browett, Esq.

R. Bryenam, Esq.

The Rev. M. C. H. Birp, M.A.

Messrs. W. Brackwoop & Sons.

E. W. Brace, Esq.

Capt. Buarr.

W. Borrer, Hsq., M.A.

F. Bostock, Esq.

The Lorp Boston.

Captain BouLTBes.

Crcit Boyz, Esq.

The Hon. C. Brann.

The Lorp BrayBRooke.

The Venerable
Brez, D.D.

(2 copies.)

ARCHDEACON

XXV1i1 LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Colonel The Hon. I. C. Brivez-
MAN.

EK. K. Briverr, Esq.

British Museum (Bioomssury).

British Museum (Narturan
History).

W. F. Brockuotzs, Esq.

H. Broke, Esq.

Rev. Storprorp A. Brooxs, M.A.

J. Brooxine-Rowe, Esq.

G. Brooxssank, Esq.

Miss BrooxsBank.

E. A. Brown, Esq.

J. A. Harvie Brown, Esq.

R. Curnsesr Brown, Esq.

Mr. W. Brown.

R. T. Hamitton Brucz, Esq.

C. Bucxtey, Esq.

J. F. Bucsiey, Esq.

T. E. Bucxizy, Esq., B.A.

Messrs. J. & E. Bumevs, Ltd.

Mr. T. B. Bumevs.

W. Arnotp Buresss, Esq.

Capt. Burn.

C. M. Peruam Burn, Esq.

Rosert Burra, Esq.

T. H. Burrovcuss, Esq. (2
copies.)

Mr. W. Burton.

Mrs. E. Burton.

Colonel HE. A. Butter.

Grorrrey F. Buxton, Esq.

S. Gurney Buxton, Esq.

Mr. J. Catverr (the late).

Campripce University Liprary.

A. L. Cammett, Esq.

Tue Caruron Crus.

F. L. Carsiaxe, Esq.

The Lorp CastLetown.

A. Cator, Esq.

J. Cavary, Esq., M.D.

Mr. C. D. Cazenove.

Axper. CuHapman, Esq.

J. P. Cuartzs, Esq.

Roserr W. Cuasz, Esq.

A. J. Cuotmiey, Esq.

G. Hurzserr Cuvss, Esq.

G. D. A. Crarx, Esq.

Sreruenson R. Crarks, Esq.

W. EHacre Crarxz, Esq.

Hersert Sanprorp Crayz, Esq.

Gro. H. Cuzmons, Esq.

Joun D. Coszoxp, Esq.

W. Cocurane, Esq.

Major The Hon. W. Coxe.

Aurrep Horsman Cotgs, Esq.

T. A. Corrox, Esq.

Witurum B. Conuer, Esq.

J. L. Cotuison-Mortey, Esq.

J. J. Corman, Esq., M.P.

Rey. J. E. Camppett Cotquuoun,
M.A.

R. H. Comsz, Esq.

Mr. J. G. Commin.

J. A. Coorer, Esq. (the late).

Mrs. Cooper.

J. CorpEavx, Esq.

Mr. J. E. Cornisu.

Messrs. Cornisu, Bros.

T. A. Corton, Esq.

LIST OF

Capt. Arexanprr Cowin, RE.

J. Cowrrr, Esq.

H. F. Cox, Esq.

W. Parry Craxn, Esq.

Avert J. Crosrrevp, Esq.

The Rev. Crepric E. Crowney,
M.A.

Puitie Crowtey, Esq.

Sipnuy G. Cummines, Esq.

Lavy Cuntrrre.

Rosert Ex.is Cunuirre, Esq.

The Hon, A. N. Curzon.

The Rev. Dr. Dauuineerr, F.R.S.

The Hart or Darniey.

H. 8. Davenport, Esq.

P. B. Davirs-Cooxn, Esq.

J. S. Davy, Esq.

Mrs. Dennistoun.

The Eart or Dursy.

H. G. Devas, Esq.

Viscount De Vusct.

The Duxe or Duvonsuinre.

Major Geo. Winertetp Dicey.

J. K. D. Winertetp Dicsy, Esq.

Colonel Gzorer Dixon.

Dovexas Dosin, Esq.

W. H. Doze, Esq.

E. D. Doncaster, Esq.

The Lorp Dormer.

Capt. G. 8. Dovetas.

Capt. R. H. J. Dovenas.

Messrs. Dovetas & Foutis.

The Dowacrer ViscounTEss
Downs.

H. M. Draper, Esq.

SUBSCRIBERS,

XX1x
TH. E. Dresser, Esq.
The Hon. Mrs. Drewirr.
Dusurn, Trinity CoLiece
Liprary.

J. H. Duncan, Esq.

Messrs. Dutav & Co.

Epmunp A. Dunn, Esq.

Appxanprr Dury, Esq.

Rev. W. F. Eaton, M.A.

Epinsuren Apvocartss’ Liprary.

G. M. Epmonps, Esq.

S. E. Evanp, Esq.

Ernest A. Exuiorr, Esq.

The Hon. Cuas. Extts.

H. M. Extis, Esq.

H. E. G. Evans, Esq.

The Rev. J. A. Ewine, M.A.

The Marquis or Exeter.

Ernest Farqunar, Esq.

Joun Farrau, Esq.

Mrs. Friipen.

General the Hon. Sir Percy R.
B. Feriprinea, K.C.B.

Major H. J. Fercusson.

Azan G. Fincu, Esq.

L. P. Fisuer, Esq.

Rev. Witrrep Fisurer, M.A.

W. iH. B. Fretcanr, Esq.

Wickuam Frower, Esq.

C. G. Savite FotsamBz, Esq.,
M.P.

Joun W. Forp, Esq.

T. H. Forean, Esq.

Ritry Fortune, Esq.

W. Fosrrr, Esq.

XXX LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

C. R. Gawen, Esq.

Tomas Georen, Esq.

Jonn GerRrarp, Hsq.

Miss Dororura H. Grpzs.

Sir Jams H. Gisson-Craie, Bart.

Sir Watrrer Ginsey, Bart.

The Rey. H. H. Grouerr, M.A.

Sir Jonn Griimour, Bart.

PF. DuCanr Gopman, Esq., F.R.S.

H. Sr. Barse Gorpsmirta, Esq.

G. I. Goopuzart, Esq.

Captain G. I. Gouxp.

Sir Georce MacruHerson Grant,
Bart.

C. Macruerson Grant, Esq. (the
late).

J. F. Grenn, Esq.

Sir Grupert GReEENALL, Bart.,
M.P. (the late).

B. W. Gruits, Esq.

Dr. A. Gtnruer, F.R.S.

Mrs. Joun Gurney.

Ricuarp H. J. Gurnny, Esq.

G. H. Caron Hateu, Esq.

J. P. Witton Hainzs, Esq.

Messrs. Hamitton, Apams,
and Co.

A. Hammonp, Esq. (the late).

H. C. Hampson, Esq.

Mrs. Georer Hansury.

Lionet Hansury, Esq.

E. W. Harcourt, Esq., M.P.
(the late).

Basiz W. Harpcastiz, Esq.

J. Harorz, Esq.

Reeinatp G. Harereaves, Esq.

Colonel Harrison.

Lawrence Harrison, Esq.

Messrs. Harntson & Sons.

Joun Harrop, Esq.

J. Hasrines, Esq.

Messrs. Hatcuarps.

Rey. H. 8. Hawkins, M.A.
(the late).

J. Cuarke Hawxsnaw, Esq.

Cuarizs T. Hessert, Esq.

Joun G. Hecxscunr, Esq.

Dr. Henprrson.

Groree Henperson, Esq.

The Lorp Henniker.

Dr. H. Benprvack Hewerson.

Rev. J. R. Hewirson, M.A.

C. R. C. Hissert, Esq.

R. F. Hispert, Esq.

Rey. T. S. Hicuens, M.A.

The Hon. Lapy Hreeinson.

Berge ery Hitt, Esq. (the late).

H. A. Hits, Esq.

W.T. Hinpmarsa, Esq.

Lavy Hottanp (the late).

F. H. Hotmes, Esq.

The Hart or Home.

G. P. Hors, Esq.

H. P. Horsy, Esq.

W. L. Hortey, Esq.

T. C. Horsratt, Esq.

Rosert J. Howarp, Esq.

The Dowacer Lapy Howarp DE
WaLpeEn.

James C. Howpen, Esq., M.D.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Mr. H. Hownut.

Rureinatp Hupson, Esq.

Lieut.-Col. J. M. Hunv.

J. HW. Hurcninson, lisq.

Colonel L. H. Inxsy.

Trevann, Nationat Lisrary oF.

Jamus J. L. Irvine, Esq.

Sir Cuarves E. Isa, Bart.

R. D. Jackson, Esq.

H. Berxutry James, Esq. (the
late).

Wituiam D. James, Esq.

C. E. Junnryes, Esq.

Harry Ciarke Jurvoisn, Esq.

H. J. Jounson, Esq.

Joun AteEernon Jongs, Esq.

Major H. Jonus.

Messrs. Jones & Evans.

R. F. Wynne Jonss, Esq.

W.C. Jonus, Esq.

Rev. H. W. Jukes, M.A.

V. A. Junius, Esq.

Junrtor Cariton Civs.

Mr. F. Jusren.

Prof. Cu. van Kumren.

Lavy Cotrripee KEennarp.

Mrs. Kunnepy.

T. 8S. Kewnepy, Esq.

Colonel E. G. Kupret.

Joun Kurmacg, Esq.

P. M. C. Kermopz, Esq.

The Lorp Kesteven.

T. M. Karcuen, Esq.

Mrs. W. H. Sneyp Kymerrstey.

R. S. Lams, Esq.

XXX]

C. J. Lambert, Esq.

Sir Groner Lampson, Bart.

Mrs. Norman Lampson.

H. Lanaton, lsq.

C. D. Laneworny, Esq.

The Hon, Grratp Lasceties.

Capt. Laruam.

W. B. Lez, Esq.

E. B. Luts, Esq.

M. Less, Esq.

Mrs. Leen.

W. Haminton Lerau, Esq.

W. Lerusripes, Esq.

Arruur Luwis, Esq.

Henry Lewis, Esq.

Crementina, Lavy Litrorp.

The Dowacer Lapy Litrorp
(the late).

W. B. Lrnotey, Esq.

Frank Lirriesoy, Esq.

Captain Sr. J. D. T. Lorrus.

The Mareuts or Lorutan, K.T.

The Eart or Lovetace.

Major A. P. Loyp.

Freprericx Lupsock, Esq.

N. Lussocr, Esq.

Frep. W. Lucas, Esq.

James Lumspen, Esq.

The Lorp Lyvepen.

Davip McBraynez, Esq.

A. McDonatp, Esq.

Mrs. Acres McDovatt.

Mrs. McIntosu.

— McQvexrn, Esq.

Capt.J.R. H. Macrarzans, R.N.

XXXil

Grorer A. Macminzan, Esq.

The Harz or Matmeszury.

Mancuester, THe Portico
Lrprary.

T. J. Mann, Esq. (the late).

T. H. Manners, Esq.

Alderman J. K. Marsnatt, J.P.

Txos. Marsaatt, Esq.

Puri B. Mason, Esq.

Sir Hersert Maxwet, Bart.,
M.P.

E. G. Muapz-Watpo, Esq.

Henry Mettisu, Esq.

J.C. Metvitte, Esq.

Messrs. MEnztus.

W. Mereweruer, Esq.

W. F. Mippreron, Esq.

J. Guitte Mittats, Esq.

G. Mituzr, Esq.

Rey. Witt1am Mitts, M.A.

E. Mitner, Esq.

J. M. Mircuett, Esq.

Joun Monckton, Esq. (2 copies.)

T. J. Monx, Esq.

H. C. Monro, Esq.

The Lorp Monraeu oF BEAULIEU.

Casimir DE R. Moors, Esq.

Rev. E. M. Moors, M.A.

Captain G. H. Moore.

Miss M. T. B. Moors.

Mrs. E. T. Moors.

Aurrep Morrison, Esq.

The CouNnTEss OF
Morton.

G. W. Murpocy, Esq.

DowacGeErR

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Cuartes Murray, Esq.

Mr. Henry C. Narraut.

EK. Nears, Esq.

G. H. Nuvire, Esq.

Arraur Newatt, Esq.

F. p’A. Newcome, Esq.

Professor Newton, F.R.S.

Watrerr B. Nicuots, Esq.

F, Nicuotson, Esq.

Rev. G. Nicnoxson, M.A.

A. Nimmo, Esq.

Messrs. James Nisser & Co.

Captain Sir Anprew Nostez,
K.C.B., F.R.S.

Hratitey Noste, Esq.

W. G. Norris, Esq.

The Eart or Norruproox.

F. M. Oertviz, Esq.

OutpHam, THe FREE
Liprary.

H. M. Ormerop, Esq.

C. F. p’A. Orrep, Esq.

Ounpie, Norruants, Literary

Pusuic

AND ScIENTIFIC INSTITUTION.
Oxrorp, Bopieran Liprary.
KK. Packs, Esq.

Mr. E. T. Pace.
Captain R. Towniry Parker

(the late).

T. Parkin, Esq., M.A.
Crcit Parr, Esq.

Mrs. Parris.

Lurwetyn S. EH. Parry, Esq.
Dr. A. Gorvon Paterson.
Mrs. Cartos Parreson.

LIST OF

C.N. Puan, Esq.

Captain G. J. H. Pearson.

H. J. Puarson, Esq.

A. Pacnern, Esq. (the late).
Dr. FE. G. Punrosr.

Mr. Youne J. Penriann.

C. H.S. Percrvar, Esq.

A. R. Prrcivat, Esq.

Major Puisss.

K. Lorr Puituies, Esq.
Captain Picorr, R.N.

T. Diesy Picort, Esq., C.B.
T. M. Puxu, Esq., M.A.
Messrs. W. N. Prrcuer & Co.
Joun Prart, Esq., J.P.

Mr. R. Pratt.

Mrs. Barrzn Poot,

F. W. Leyzporne Poruam, Esq.
H. A. Powztt, Esq., M.D.

P. E. re Porr Pownr, Esq.
Colonel The Hon. C. J. Fox-
Powys (the late).
Wag Jal@nis “Ibe \iiia
Powys (the late).
H. L. Powys-Kaucr, Esq.

Watrrter Prentis, Esq.

Ee

Freprric Preryman, Esq.
W. Marx Pyzus, Esq.
Mr. B. Quaritcu.
W. H. Sr. Quintin, Esq.
Pantra Rawr, Esq.
Major R. G. Warpiaw Ramsay.
W. F. Rawnstey, Esq.
H. E. Rawson, Esq.
Rozsert H. Reap, Esq.
VOL. I.

SUBSCRIBERS.

Fox- |

XXX1il

Colonel Enis P. Pox Rerve.
Captain 8. G. Rrrp.
Percy Renparz, Esq., M.D.

W. Rensnaw, Esq.

Mrs. Ricuarpson.

D. Lroyp Rozerts, Esq., M.D.

Mrs. Octavius Roprnson.

W. D. Roxsinson-Doveras, Esq.,
M.A.

The Rev. Henry Rocers, M.A.

Major H. G. Rooper.

Cuartes 8. Rounpett, Esq.

The Hon. Maup RussEtt.

Mrs. Warts Russztt (the late).

Mrs. Stroprorp SackviLie.

Captain F. H. Saryin.

Ospert Satvin, Esq., F.R.S.

A. Sarroris, Hsq.

Captain J. Scorr.

J. Scorr, Esq.

Exors. of the late A. Sersy, Esq.
Joun D. Susy, Esq.

L. L. Saapwatt, Esq.

R. Bowpier Suaren, Hsq., LL.D.
SHerriztp Pusric Museum.

| Captain G. E. Sueniey.

The Lorp SHERBORNE.

| H. Sinva, Esq.

T. Sronps, Esq.

Messrs. SIMPKIN,
Hamitton, Kent, & Co., Ltd.

MarsHatt,

Tuomas Simpson, Esq.

Frank B. Stuson, Esq.

The Rev. A. C. Smirn, M.A.
B. Woop Smiru, Esq.

c

XXXiV

Harorp Samira, Esq.

Sir GrevitLe Smyru, Bart.
Major-General I’, E. Sorunsy.
Messrs. H. Sorupran & Co.
Dr. J. H. Strenuovsz, R.N.
Miss Maup Srrvrenson.

Joun Cuarues Stewart, Esq.
Sir Grorer Srrrvine.
Wittiam Sroats, Esq.

J. Henry Srocr, Esq.

C. Sronuam, Esq.

Mrs. Gurarp STREATFIELD.
Lt.-Colonel C. I. Srrone.

P. Stuss, Esq.

Vincent Stuckey, Esq.
Colonel R. W. Sruppy.

T. E. Stuppy, Esq.

James Surron, Esq.

Lavy Surron.

A. L. Tats, Esq.

T. E. Tarron, Esq.

J. B. Taytor, Esq.

W. B. Trcrrmernr, Esq.
Grorcr A. Tempter, Esq.
Prof. D’Arcy THomeson, M.A.
J. THompson, Esq.

R. H. Tuompson, Esq.

Szron M. Tuomson, Esq.

A. Toorsurn, Esq.

Mrs. THornTOonN.

Joun Gare Turine, Esq., M.A.
Viscount THROWLEY.

Prers Tuurssy, Esq.
Lt.-Colonel Tuynne.

F. J, Tuynne, Esq.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

Sir Joun Tittry, K.C.B.

C. Epmunp pe Trarrorp, Esq.

Major H. Treveryan.

The Rey. Canon Tristram, D.D.,
E.RS.

J.T. Tristram-Vatentine, Esq.
(the late).

The Hon. R. C. Trotrorn. ©

Sir Tuomas Trovusrince, Bart.

J. A. Tux, Esq. (the late).

The Lorp TwxepmoutH. (2
copies.)

Epwarp Maxwett Tworeny, Esq.

H. M. Urcurr, Esq.

Lieut.-Colonel
Verner, R.B.

B. Wentwortu Vernon, Esq.

WILLOUGHBY

A. R. Verscuoyte, Esq.
E. Verscuoy.e, Esq.

J. Vicary, Esq.

Captain J. A. M. Vipan.
Mrs. Vivian.

| H. Howarp Vyssz, Esq.

Colonel A. L. Warxnr.
Epwin Waker, Esq.
Mr. Waker.

V. O. Watmestey, Esq.

| The Lorp Watsrneuam, F.R.S.

Josrpu Watton, Esq., Q.C.
W. H. Warner, Esq.

| Messrs. Warxins & Doncaster.

Goprrey J. Wzss, Esy.
Messrs. W. Westry & Son.

| The Earu or WHARNCLIFFE.

Mr. J. WuELpDon.

LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS.

J. Wuiraker, lisq.

J. Wurrenorne, Hsq., Q.C.

C. Wnymrnr, Lsq.

Miss Wickuam,

Jounson Wixkinson, Esq.
Messrs. Wiiurams & Noreare,
Mrs. W. A. Witts.

The Rev. Herperr Witson, M.A.
Mr. Aurrep Witson,

Haroxip Wixson, Esq.

Mrs. Wisz.

XXXV

I. Wrrcoms, Esq.
Cottinawoop L. Woop, Esq.
Mrs. Joun Woop.

R. Woopnovuss, sq.

G. A. Wrieut, Esq.

Mrs. Henry Wyman.

J. M. Yares, Esq., Q.C.

J. Youne, Esq. (2 copies.)
Tar Zoonocican Sociery or
Lonpon.

a

ote Seale pwersantrae | ONE

SOE Pawn Es

IN VOLUME I.

To face
page
Porrrair or Lorp Litrorp. ( Frontispiece.)

Adult

. Gotpen Hacun. Aquila chrysaetus nen

. Do. Do. Immature.
. Srorrrp HEacur. Aquila nevia (J. F. Gmelin).

ANC TU he ested euepc nb Merah nein pe aeiaiin eon ct rites 3
> 1D IDO, km, so io boo o 5 6 } 4
Do. Do. Do. Miya ae
. Wuire-TaILep or Sza- ae Anite haliaetus
@oinn eA diultimerc 0, esas eh get se 8
5 IDO, IDO, liner 5 Seas, eer. GO
. Osprey. Pandion haliaetus (tian. ) ote Biche peer age
. Common Buzzarv. Buteo vulgaris, Leach . . . 16
. Roven-txccep Buzzarv. Buteo lagopus (J. F.
Gmelin) eee ase come owe ee sat, ee aaa den CLO
. Honny-Buzzarp. Pernis apivorus (Linn.) . . -) 4
} a
. Do. Do. 3 St Catt eG gor
. Kits. Milvus Hogatts (Pall.) Jie Shs Boe Le
. Brack Kitz. Milvus migrans (Boddaert) Deen, tees
. Gyr Farcon. Falco gyrfalco, Linn... . . 29

. Icenannp Fatcon. Falco islandus, J. F. Genet.

Adult female. . . . eae fh cates ero

. Do. Do. Immature ame PLO pepe tue bet

XXXVlil PLATES IN VOL. I.

To face
page
18. Greentanp Fatcon. Falco candicans,J.¥.Gmelin. 36
19. Purrerine Fatcon. Falco peregrinus, Tunstall.
Female, fourth year oe Mo sue YO, 6 : 40
20. Do. .Do. Male, first year . Soyer yours enims
21. Hossy. Falco subbuteo, Linn. Adult . . . y A
22. Do. Do. Immature.
23. Rep-roorep Fatcon. Falco vespertinus, Linn. 45
24. Meruin. Falco esalon, Tunstall. Adult male 4 50
25. Do. Do. Adult female and immature male
26. Kestret. Falco tinnunculus, Linn. 53
27. Lesser Kestrex. Falco cenchris, Naum. . . . 55
28. Gos-Hawsk. <Astur palumbarius (Linn.). Adult
female . Bis, Ge oy Shalene Bes, eh ai OS
29. Do. Do. Plumage of first year . ne ae et ae OO)
30. Sparrow-Hawk. Accipiter nisus (Linn.). Male.
31. Do. Do. Female Baal ros Ber ony Bie ll 66
32) Doe Doagelammatuxe;malew.e ann meee ‘{
388. Do. Do. Immature female . 0
34. Marsu-Harrter. Circus @ruginosus (Linn.).
Wea Ollila 6 5 6 «6 67
35. Do. Do. Plumage of first yea 68
36. Hen-Harrigr. Circus cyaneus (Linn.). 69
37. Monracu’s Harrier. Circus cineraceus (Montagu).
Adult and immature males . on 8 ; 73
88. Do. Do. Female and dark form of male .
39. Grirron Vuttrure. Gyps fulvus, J. F. Gmelin 77
40. NeopHron or Eayprian Vutture. Neophron
percnopterus (Linn.) oy Ce ata ob!
41. Tawny, Brown, or Woopv-Owx. Syrnium aluco
(Linn.) Bre ear ania ots 87
AQS os Dose (Gxreyeracc) yarn. tiene cen mel ner eS
43, Tenematm’s Ow. WNyctala tengmalmi (J. F.
Gian) 6 65 o 6% gdlige esp aher or | ED
44, Lone-EARED Own. Asio otus (Linn.) 91
45, SHorT-HARED Own. <Asio brachyotus (Forster) 95

46.
47.
48.
49.
50,
51.

Eacin-Owun.

Scors Own.

Lirrie Own.

Hawxk-Owt.

Snowy Owt.

Barn-Owt.

PLATES IN VOL. I.

Bubo maximus, Fleming .

Scops giu (Scop.)
Athene noctua (Scop.)
Surnia funerea (Linn.)
Nyctea scandiaca (Linn.)
Strix flammea, Linn.

XXxX1X

To face
page
97

100
102
103
105
109

GOLDEN EAGLE.

AQUILA CHRYSAETOS (Linn.).

Falco chrysaétos, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 125 (1766).
Falco fulvus, Nawm. 1. p. 208.
Aquila chrysaétus, Macg. ii. p. 204; Yarr. ed. 4,1. p. 11;
Dresser, v. p. 533.
Aquila chrysaétos, Hewitson, 1. p. 8.
Grand Aigle, Aigle doré, French; Stein-Adler, German ;
Aguila real, Aguila negra, Aguila serrana, Spanish.

This fine species, owing to the enlightened protection
of a few landed proprietors and lessees of deer-forests,
still breeds in the Highlands of Scotland, and, I believe,
in some of the mountain-ranges of Ireland; but its
numbers have been greatly curtailed by the high price
set upon its eggs by collectors, and the persecution of
game-preservers. It is recorded to have bred formerly
in various parts of England and in North Wales, but
has long ceased to do so, and is now a very rare visitor
to any part of Great Britain south of the border. The
nest is usually situated on a ledge of rock, in some cases
easily accessible, not infrequently in high trees, and the
same site is annually used. ‘The eggs are generally
three in number, but it is seldom that more than two
are hatched. In Scotland, as far as my own experience
goes, the principal food of this Eagle consists of Blue
or Alpine Hares, and Rabbits, very young Lambs, and
carrion.

Some gamekeepers declare that the Eagles are very
destructive to Grouse ; but I only once, in Scotland, saw
one of this species in actual pursuit of any bird, in this
case a Ptarmigan was the object.

The drawing for the accompanying Plate was taken
in 1888 from a pair of birds in the aviary at Lilford,
which were taken from a nest in Scotland in 1877, and
laid eggs for the first time in the year first mentioned.

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin

GOLDEN EAGLE.

Aquila chrysaétus (Zinn)

(a7) snyeeskayo vjinby

¢

1-OWOHHS

Noa ba ed

~I|D9

SPOTTED EAGLE.

Aquila nzvia (J. F. Gmelin).

Drawn from a living specimen captured near Colchester, Oct.

agth. 1891.

Litho, W. Greve, Berlin,

SPOTTED EAGLE.

AQUILA NAEVIA (J. F. Gmelin).

Falco nevius, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 258 (1788).
Aquila neevia, Hewitson, i. p. 18; Yarr. ed. 4, 1. p. 20.
Falco clanga, Naum. xiii. p. 40.

Aquila clanga, Dresser, v. p. 499.

Aigle tacheté, Aigle criard, French; Schrei- Adler, German ;
Aguila pintada, Valencia.

Few European birds have caused more discussion and
confusion amongst ornithologists than the Spotted
Eagle and its close congeners ; I have no wish to add
any elements for argument on this well-worn subject,
and will therefore only state that, im my own opinion,
we have in Europe only one true species of the Eagle
that is called “ Spotted,” although I am perfectly ready
to admit that this species may be fairly divided into
two separate forms or races.

My business here is to give representations of Spotted
Eagles obtained in this country, and with this object I
have chosen two specimens of (probably) about the same
age, obtained in October and November 1891, in Essex
and Suffolk respectively, and differing widely in plumage.

Mr. H. Saunders, in his most useful ‘ Manual,’

PVA Tel sont EEE EEE EEE =

records six occurrences of the Spotted Eagle in our
Islands; to these I can add one killed at Somerley,
Hants, on December 28, 1861, and three obtained in
the late autumn of 1891 in East Anglia. My Plates
are taken from two of these last three birds, the dark-
coloured one from a living specimen captured near
Colchester in October 1891; for the opportunity of
giving the portrait of this specimen from life, I am in-
debted to the courtesy of the Hon. Walter Rothschild.

The bird represented in the other Plate was killed
near Wickham Market in November 1891, stuffed by
Messrs. Pratt, of Brighton, and very kindly lent to me
by its owner, Mr. J. J. Hornby, for the purposes of
this work ; this is one of the finest specimens of this
Eagle in the spotted stage of plumage that I have ever
seen, but a third specimen killed at Leigh Court, Essex,
early in November 1891, of which Mr. Thorburn was,
at my request, allowed to make a drawing, is very nearly
as beautiful. I became well acquainted with this species
during my constant shooting expeditions in Epirus and
Albania in 1856, 1857, and 1858. I believe that -it
breeds in the former province, as it certainly does, or
did, in Acarnania, but I never found an occupied nest
near the coast.

In the winter months we found this species very
abundantly, in fact it might fairly be called the Hagle of
Epirus, although by no means the only representative of
the genus Aguila therein. ‘The favourite resorts of the
Spotted Eagle are marshy but well wooded plains, and
in my experience almost every clump of high trees on
our favourite shooting-grounds was tenanted by one or

qr

SPOTTED EAGLE.

(J. F. Gmelin)

Aquila nevia, male,

r8Q1

Suffolk, Nov. 4th.

Drawn from a specimen killed near Sudbourne,

i
~
y i ay As
: ‘
Na
4
At
A
a
i
2 Ss ]
.
:
i be
nae)
~”
’ 4 pr
A {
}
; | { vy "
yy
1 et
NRO
; Ab ae
Ds hi Has
‘ a ‘
| “
J .
H ‘
-
‘
.
4 *
}
i, 2 2

)
i

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin

SPOTTED EAGLE
Aquila nzvia (J. F. Gmelin).

Drawn from life at Lilford. Plumage of fourth year.

e

more of these birds from October till March or April.
In general habits I could perceive but little difference
between this Eagle and the Common Buzzard, except
that the former birds very frequently followed us, or
kept flying from tree to tree upon our flanks, as we
tramped the country with our guns, but I must admit
that I never saw a Spotted Eagle in pursuit of any bird,
even of a wounded one. My impression is that during
the winter months these Eagles feed principally upon
small mammalia and marsh-frequenting birds that they
can take upon the ground, such as Waterhens and Rails,
and I can vouch for the fact that in spring, at all events
in European Turkey, frogs and small snakes form their
staple diet. The usual cry of this Eagle is a shrill
frequently repeated double note, but I have occasionally
heard them utter a long scream. ‘To those who are
not well acquainted with this species, I may state,
roughly speaking, that the spots are lost with advancing
years, and that the plumage of adults is of a more or
less uniform dark brown. I have kept several Spotted
Kagles in captivity at Lilford and find them very peace-
able and friendly czter se. It will be noticed that I
have treated both races of this Eagle as constituting one
species, one of my principal reasons for so doing being
that their cries are absolutely identical. I have never
seen the Spotted Eagle alive in Spain, but have received
specimens from Andalucia and Valencia, and noticed one
making a stoop at something on the ground within a
mile of the Bidasoa on the French side of that famous
river. I have a very beautifui specimen of this Eagle

obtained near Nice in 18d8.

The third Plate represents an adult bird, and was
taken from a living specimen at Lilford; this bird was
purchased from a London dealer, who assured me that

he had received it from N. Germany.

WHITE-TAILED or SEA-EAGLE,

HALIAETUS ALBICILLA (Linn.).

Vultur albiulla (misprint), Linn. S. N. i. p. 123 (1766).
Falco albicilla, Nawm. i. p. 224.

Haliaétus albicilla, Macg. iii. p. 221; Dresser, v. p. 551.
Aquila albicilla, Hewitson, i. p. 15.

Halietus albicilla, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 25.

Pygargue ordinaire, French; See-Adler, German; Aguila
de Mar, Spanish.

This bird, which is perhaps more commonly known
as Sea-Hagle, formerly bred in many parts of Scotland
and Ireland, but its numbers have been so greatly
reduced by the persecution of gamexeepers and shep-
herds, that I believe that I am justified im saying that
very few pairs, probably not a dozen altogether, now
nest regularly in the United Kingdom; and as I should
be very unwilling to be the cause of the further moles-
tation or destruction of this fine species, I refrain from
publishing the very little that I know concerning its
nesting-localities in our country. The nest of this Eagle
in our islands is generally, but by no means invariably,
placed on a ledge of sea-cliff, and is usually more or less
difficult of access; but, in localities where the bird is

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

WHITE-TAILED OR SEA EAGLE, aduit

Haliaétus albicilla (Linn).

9
comparatively unmolested, the nest is often to be met
with on trees, sometimes on bushes, and occasionally
even on the ground; it is built of sticks, piled on year
after year as the exigencies of time and weather may
require, and lined with grasses, moss, and fern. John
Wolley, as quoted in the 4th edition of Yarrell, says
that, in the many nests of this species found by him in
Scotland, Luzula sylvatica was always made use of, but
I never had the good fortune to see a nest at close
quarters in that country. ‘The eggs are generally laid
im March, two in number, and are pure white. Imma-
ture birds of this species are very frequently met with
in autumn and winter on the east coast of England, and
not very uncommonly inland, and are easily shot or
trapped; in a great many instances these occurrences
are recorded in the local newspapers as those of
“Magnificent Golden Eagles which have been devas-
tating &c. &e.” These wandering Eagles, as a matter
of fact, subsist principally upon rabbits and any dead
animal substances that they can find. I have seen this
bird several times in Scotland, more frequently on the
west coast of Ireland, and often on the Turkish shores
of the Adriatic; m the latter localities it seemed to prey
principally upon white mullet and bass captured in the
shallow bays and lagoons, and also to a great extent on
the carcases of cattle left to rot on the plains. TI have
also, on several occasions, seen a White-tailed Eagle
stoop at swimming water-fowl, but only once witnessed
a capture of this kind; the old Eagles were generally
observed either sitting motionless on a dead bough of
some lofty tree in the marshes, or soaring high in the

air playing with one another and uttering from time to
time a sharp yelp or bark. ‘The first Plate represents a
specimen in the plumage of the first or second year ;
the second, in adult plumage, was taken from a sketch
of an old female sent to me from a nest in Ireland in
1854, and still alive in good health and plumage at
Lilford, February 1890.

The Highland shepherds accuse the White-tailed
Eagle of destroying many lambs, and there is, I fear, no
doubt that the accusation is well founded ; but in Epirus
I was begged by some of the pastoral and more or less
brigand fraternity to spare the old birds at a nest on the
shores of the Gulf of Arta, on account of their services
in driving away other birds of prey; these individuals,
however, were Greeks, and probably lied, and, although
I scrupulously attended to their request, I am inclined
to think that it was based on some superstition rather
than on the reason alleged.

wal
6

WHITE-TAILED or SEA EAGLE, jw.

Haliaétus albicilla (Linz,).

”

Litho, W. Greve, Berlin.

ND

OSPREY

Pandion haliaétus (Linn.).

OSPREY.

PANDION HALIAETUS (Linn.).

Falco haliztus, Linn. S. N. i. p. 129 (1766).
Falco haliaétos, Naum. i. p. 241.
Pandion haliaétus, Macg. iii. p. 239; Dresser, vi. p. 139.
Pandion halizetus, Hewitson, i. p. 19; Yarr. ed. 4, 1. p. 30.
Balbusard, French; Fluss-Adler, Fisch-Adler, German ;
Aguila pescador, Spanish.

These beautiful birds visit Great Britain in March,
and are too often massacred during their short stay
on the English estuaries on their way to their nesting-
haunts in Scotland and Northern Europe. In 1832
Sir William Jardine, as quoted in Yarrell’s ‘ British
Birds,’ wrote that a pair or two might be found about
most of the Highland Lochs, where they built either
on ruined towers or aged trees. Between 1849 and
1857 Mr. Wolley found that so many Ospreys had
been destroyed in the Scottish Highlands that most
of their recorded breeding-places were deserted, and
at the present day a very few pairs only annually
breed there under strict and most laudable protection.

The Osprey returns southwards about the beginning
of September, and on both passages frequently follows
the course of rivers to a considerable distance from

the sea. I am acquainted with several occurrences
in our county—Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, and,
if my memory serves me correctly, more than one
in Warwickshire, and on one occasion had the great
delight of watching an Osprey fishing at his ease,
though without success, on a broad reach of our
principal river, the Nen. My earliest acquaintance
with this species was made upon the shores of the
Lake of Geneva, near Lausanne, where, in March
and early April, one or two were constantly to be seen
sailing at no great height above the water, and
occasionally dashing at the fishes that frequented it ;
so far as I could then make out, small perch were
the most frequent victims. I have subsequently met
with Ospreys throughout the Mediterranean, from
Gibraltar to the Ionian Islands and the adjacent
Turkish mainland. A pair of these birds nested
regularly, and may, for all that I know to the contrary,
do so still, on the Mediterranean side of the Rock of
Gibraltar ; Colonel Irby showed me this nest in June
1869, when it contained young, and he has published
some interesting details with reference to the Osprey
and its habits in that part of the world in his exhaustive
work on the ‘Ornithology of the Straits of Gibraltar.’
I know of several nesting-places of the Osprey on
certain Mediterranean islands, and feel no doubt that
a pair constantly observed by us in May 1876 about
the harbour of Santander had a nest in that neigh-
bourhood, although we failed to discover it. From
my experience I think that the Osprey prefers the
bare limb of a high tree, or the top of a post or

«

fishing-stake, to a rock, for taking its meals upon;
but, of course, when the captured fish is heavy the
birds avail themselves of the first convenient dinner-
table, and I have more than once seen them alight
with their prey on the bare sandy shore. In the
case of large fishes I think that the Osprey seldom
touches the head, and certainly avoids the larger bones.
I have found the almost entire skeletons of large
mullets with heads and tails intact, but with every
scrap of flesh and skin devoured by our birds.

The appearance of the Osprey on wing is most
singularly graceful, the long and, comparatively speaking,
narrow wings, and the peculiar angle at which they
are spread whilst the bird is hunting for its prey,
distinguish it at any distance from any other European
species. Although this bird very frequently hovers
for a second or two before making its stoop, it generally
dashes at its ‘quarry’ from a certain height, and often
seems simply to lift it from the water in its talons.
On the other hand, it is common to see the Osprey
plunge headlong below the surface for an instant ;
I need hardly say that it does not pursue fishes under
water. The method of the Osprey differs from that
of the Falcons in this particular, that whereas the latter
birds on missing their quarry at the first stoop almost
imvariably mount before making a second, the present
bird, if its intended victim moves during the stoop,
checks its flight for a moment and makes another
attempt from the lower “pitch.” I trust that my
readers will pardon my use of the technical terms of
falconry in treating of a fish-eating bird, but I can

find no others equally expressive, and I flatter myself
that my meaning in this instance must be clear enough.

For obvious reasons the Osprey prefers shallow
waters for its operations, and the great lagoons of
Sardinia, Corsica, and Tunis are especially favourite
resorts.. This bird generally builds a huge nest of
sticks: I have never looked into one except when
crowded with young birds, but I am inclined to think
that the few that I have seen were capped or lined with
fragments of sea-weed. The eggs are usually three in
number, and are certainly amongst the most beautiful
of those of British birds. I have found it impossible to
keep this species alive in captivity for any length of
time. It is perhaps unnecessary, but will not occupy
much space, to inform my fair readers that the “‘ Osprey”
of the plumassiers and hat and bonnet makers has
nothing to do with the present bird, but is applied to
the plumes of various species of the Egret-family, used
by unreasoning womankind too frequently as aids to
natural attraction.

COMMON BUZZARD.

BUTEO VULGARIS, Leach.

Buteo vulgaris, Leach, Syst. Cat. Mamm. & Birds in Brit.
Mus. p. 10 (1816); Hewitson, i. p. 38; Yarr. ed. 4, 1.
p- 109; Dresser, v. p. 449.

Falco buteo, Linn. S. N.i. p. 127; Naum. i. p. 346.

Buteo fuscus, Macg. iil. p. 183.

Buse, French; Bussard, Mduse-Bussard, German; Arpella,
Spanish.

The Buzzard was formerly common and well known
_throughout England, Wales, and Scotland, and in
Thompson’s time was also to be met with in certain
localities in Ireland; but although it still holds its own
in some of the wilder districts of our country, its
numbers have been very greatly reduced by trapping
and shooting, and in the agricultural parts of England
it may fairly now be called a rare bird. I am personally
acquainted with several nesting-places of this species in
England and Scotland ; the nest is generally built on
cliffs, or tall trees, and is composed of sticks and twigs,
with wool and dried grass as lining ; the eggs, generally
three in number, are white, with spots and streaks of

rusty red-brown.

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

i
4
COMMON BUZZARD.

Buteo vulgaris, Leach.

In general habits the Buzzard much resembles the
Eagles, especially in its common habit of soaring at a
great height in fine weather, and in the wilder parts of
Scotland this bird is constantly pointed out to tourists
as an Eagle. I believe that the Buzzard feeds prin-
cipally upon moles, rats, mice, voles, and young
rabbits; no doubt a young or sickly chicken may be
occasionally taken by these birds, but on the whole
they should in my opinion be strictly preserved and
encouraged, as not only very useful but most orna-
mental. ‘The cry of the Buzzard is a plaintive wail, and
is constantly uttered by the parent birds as they sail
over their nests when disturbed.

This species ranges over the greater part of Europe ;
I met with it constantly during the winter on the shores
of the Lake of Geneva, where, for some reason of which
I could not obtain any satisfactory explanation, it was
generally known to the country people under the name
of “ Bon Oiseau”; as many of my readers are doubtless
aware, the word “bon” is occasionally used to imply
simple, or stupid, but in this instance I am disposed to
think that the thrifty Swiss recognized the utility of the
bird and applied the adjective in its primary sense,
though the Buzzard certainly is in a measure compara-
tively simple-minded about traps, and in allowing the
near approach of human enemies. In captivity the
Buzzard becomes perfectly tame, and if well fed may
safely be trusted in the company of almost any other
birds.

This species is subject to many variations of plumage ;
the subject selected for the Plate is a very remarkably

dark-coloured specimen, which was taken in Cornwall
more than twenty years ago and is still alive at Lilford ;
this bird has altered very slightly in plumage since it
came into my possession, and has a peculiar purple
bloom upon its feathers which Mr. Thorburn has done
his best to render faithfully, and, in my opinion, has
succeeded admirably in treating what must have been

an exceptionally difficult detail.

4 Litho. W. Greve, Berlin,

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD.

Buteo lagopus (J. F. limelin).

ROUGH-LEGGED BUZZARD.

BUTEO LAGOPUS (J. F. Gmelin).

Falco lagopus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 260 (1788) ; Nawm. i.
p. 359.

Buteo lagopus, Macg. iii. p. 193; Hewitson, i. p. 89; Yarr.
ed. 4, 1. p. 115.

Archibuteo lagopus, Dresser, v. p. 471.

Archibuse pattue, French; Rauchfuss-Bussard, German.

This is a species about which I am unable to give any
information from personal observation of its habits in a
wild state, as I have not seen more than perhaps four or
five individuals at various times sweeping over the open
country of West Norfolk in late autumn and winter.

The Rough-legged Buzzard breeds commonly in the
north of continental Europe, and is by no means an
infrequent autumnal visitor to Great Britain, where it is
generally destroyed very soon after its first appearance ;
it certainly prefers open to wooded country during its
visits, and has a very natural predilection for rabbit-
warrens ; otherwise, in general habits, it seems to
resemble the Common Buzzard, but it is a larger and

much more powerful bird, and may be distinguished

from that species even at a considerable distance by its
lighter colour. The few reports of this bird’s having
bred in our country are open to very considerable
doubt.

The figure here given was taken from a bird now
alive at Lilford, where it has been for several years ; it
is a very silent bird, and lives in perfect amity with
various other raptorial species.

AR

Orgy iy

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

HONEY-BUZZARD.

Pernis apivorus (Linn.).

e
\
'
‘
hn] 7,
,
Bae
pe 7
eat <a
oh See
sw lit .
‘ “
oe .
ve

“Cmugq) snioaide simisg

‘GCuvVZZNd-AUNOH

or

‘upag ‘9acin “44 ‘ONIT

HONEY-BUZZARD.

PERNIS APIVORUS (Linn.).

Falco apivorus, Linn. S. N.i. p. 130 (1766) ; Naum. 1. p. 367,
xi. p. 28.

Pernis apivora, Macg. i. p. 254.

Pernis apivorus, Hewitson, i. p. 40; Yarr. ed. 4, 1. p. 121;
Dresser, vi. p. 8.

Buse bondrée, French ; Wespen-Bussard, German ; Aguila
de Moros, Abejero, Abispera, Spanish.

This bird, whose common English name should be
summarily changed to ‘ Wasp-Buzzard,” is locally well
known as a suminer visitor to the forest-districts of
most parts of Europe. My friend Mr. H. E. Dresser,
in his grand work ‘The Birds of Europe,’ records it as
breeding in Finland; it is exceedingly common on
passage in Sicily, it occurs in Palestine, and we found
it nesting on the frontiers of Santander and Asturias.
In this country there are many records of the finding
of occupied nests of the Honey-Buzzard; I am glad
to be able, on good authority, to add to those
recorded in the 4th ed. of ‘Yarrell,’ two instances
in the county of Bucks; and I have every reason to
believe that if unmolested these birds would breed in
some abundance throughout our British woodlands. In

Northamptonshire I have very good traditional evidence
that it was by no means uncommon in the summer
during the early decades of the present century, and I
have a specimen that was shot with its mate from a
nest that contained four eggs, in the summer of 1843
or 1844. he old gamekeeper who shot these birds
declared that in his early days he had shot “scores of
Buzzards of two kinds,” besides Kites and Harriers.
My personal acquaintance with the subject of this
article in freedom is somewhat limited, being confined
almost exclusively to Switzerland and Spain. I seldom,
if ever, observed a Honey-Buzzard soaring in the
manner of the Common Buzzard or Kite; it always
seemed to me to be a somewhat sluggish bird, by no
means remarkably shy of man, delighting in “ taking

?

the sun” on the topmost boughs of lofty trees, and
evincing a very marked preference for beeches. It is
very frequently to be seen on the ground in open glades
under the forest trees, im search of wasp-grubs and
other food, and runs with great ease and rapidity. The
only note that I have heard from a wild bird of this
species is a shrill monosyllabic squeal rapidly repeated,
and very distinct from the long-drawn shriek of the
Kite or the wail of the Common Buzzard. The nest is
usually placed in a tall beech or oak tree, at a con-
siderable height from the ground, and is usually com-
posed of dead sticks, and lined with twigs and root-fibres,
and carpeted with fresh beech-leaves that are constantly
renewed till the eggs are hatched out. ‘The story of
the leafy screen that is recorded in ‘ Yarrell,’ 4th ed.
vol. i. p. 123, on the authority of the late Mr. E. Clough

Newcome, was told to me by that gentleman many
years ago; his idea was that it was intended either as a
means of concealing the nestlings from the sharp eyes
of the Gos-Hawks that frequent the forest in which he
observed this habit, or as a screen from the sun; be
this as it may, it is not an invariable custom, and, so
far as the latter hypothesis is concerned, the Honey-
Buzzard’s nests are generally well shaded from the sun.

Besides the grubs of wasps and bees that constitute
the favourite food of this bird, worms, caterpillars, frogs,
field-mice, and other “small deer,” to my knowledge,
come frequently into its bill of fare. It is somewhat
remarkable that having failed in several instances to
keep this species alive through the winter upon the
ordinary food of ‘‘ Raptores,” I was induced, in the
case of two young birds received from France in
August 1892, to try them with an exclusive diet of
bread and milk, and found that they did perfectly well
upon this very unnatural provend, preferring it even to
wasp-comb full of grubs.

I have this year (1893) received a nestling of this
species (also from France) of the very beautiful variety
with white head and upper breast, figured in Dresser’s
‘Birds of Europe’ and Borrer’s ‘Birds of Sussex.’
Having been informed in 1891 of the capture of
a Honey-Buzzard many years before that date in Salcey
Forest, Northamptonshire, I wrote to the person named
to me as the captor, and received the following reply :—
“Salcey Forest, March 25, 1891. I beg to say, in
answer to your letter, that the Honey-Buzzard was
pulled out by me in the Crown Woods near Silverstone

in this county in September 1861. On seeing the
wasps unusually busy one morning about 8 o'clock, I
went near the nest to ascertain the cause. The whole
of the combs were scratched out, and there was a hole
nearly the size of a bee-hive. On seeing the tail of a
bird, I put my arm in and drew out what proved to be
a very fine specimen of the Honey-Buzzard. I sent
the bird for preservation; but after about ten years it
crumbled to pieces. ‘To prove the date, I enclose receipt
for stuffing —Thomas Gulliver, Crown Woodman.”

On one occasion in September 1856 I witnessed a
passage of great numbers of this species from Spain to
Africa. Our vessel was becalmed off Europa Point, and
from about noon till dusk the Honey-Buzzards kept
passing over and on both sides of us in flocks of from
half a dozen to eighty or more, at intervals of a few
minutes, at no very great height above the water,
although for the most part out of gunshot from our
ship. Colonel Irby states that the vernal passage of
this species to the northward, as observed by him at
Gibraltar, generally occurs during the last days of
April and first fortnight of May, and extends over some
twenty days.

it

4

KITE.
Milvus regalis (Pall).

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

KITE,

MILVUS REGALIS (Pail.).

Accipiter regalis, Pall. Zoogr. Rosso-As. 1. p. 356 (1811).

Falco milvus, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 126 (1766) ; Naum. i. p. 333.

Milvus ictinus, Savigny, Syst. Ois. de P Egypte, p. 28; Yarr.
ed. 4, 1. p. 92; Dresser, v. p. 643.

Milvus regalis, Macg. iii. p. 265.

Milvus vulgaris, Hewitson, i. p. 36.

Milan royal, French ; rothe Milan, Gabelweihe, German ;
Milano real, Spanish.

This beautiful bird, which, within my recollection, was
by no means uncommon about our home in North-
amptonshire, and abundant in some of the great wood-
lands of Huntingdonshire, as in many other parts of
England, is now very rare in Great Brita. Certain
districts of South and North Wales are still ornamented
by the occasional visits of the Kite, and I feel sure that
all lovers of birds must have shared my disgust at a
recent announcement in the ‘ Field’ that no less than
five of this species had been slaughtered within a small
area of the Principality since the beginning of this year
(1889). I believe that a few Kites still annually visit the
Highlands of Scotland, and can only hope that the pro-
tection afforded in one praiseworthy instance that has

come to my knowledge may be extended far and wide.
I cannot believe, from my acquaintance with the habits
of this bird, that it would ever be likely to inflict serious
loss upon game-preservers, though, from its habit of
hanging around villages, small chickens are occasionally
taken by it. In many parts of the continent our bird is
still common, especially so in Spain, in which country
many Kites may often be seen soaring in wide circles
over hill and plain, and their shrill plaintive cry is
constantly to be heard. No refuse or garbage comes
amiss to these birds, and they are certainly most efficient
inspectors of nuisances. ‘The nest of the Kite is usually
built in a high tree with a strong foundation and walls
of dead sticks, and a curious assortment of various
“unconsidered trifles” as lining. Mr. John Hancock
has informed me that a Kite’s nest, taken many years
ago in Northamptonshire, contained a bit of saddle-girth,
a bit of red worsted binding, a harvester’s glove, and
many pieces of paper and linen, and I am acquainted
with more than one instance of purses containing money
having been found in nests of this bird. The eggs are
usually three in number, white, with rust-coloured spots

and streaks.

BLACK KITE.

Milvus migrans (Boddaert).

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

BLACK KITE.

MILVUS MIGRANS (Boddaert).

Falco migrans, Boddaert, Table des Planches Enl. p. 28.
no. 472 (1783).

Faleo ater, Naum. i. p. 340.

Milvus migrans, Yarr. ed. 4, 1. p. 97; Dresser, v. p. 651.

Milan noir, French; Schwarzer Milan, German; Milano
negro, Spanish.

I only use the ordinary English name for this species
for want of a better, as the bird is certainly not
“black,” and to call it “migratory” would not distin-
guish it from other members of its family. ‘The only
recorded occurrence of this Kite in this country is that

“of a specimen taken in a trap at Alnwick, Northumber-
land, and brought in a fresh state to the late Mr. John
Hancock on May 11, 1866; this bird, an adult male, is
now in the Museum of Newcastle-on-Tyne. ‘This bird
is a common summer visitor to the plains of Central
Zurope, Southern France, Spain, and North Africa; in
all these countries I have observed it, but my principal
acquaintance with it was formed in Central and Southern
Spain; in Andalucia it arrives early in March, and from
that period till the end of September may be met with

more or less abundantly in almost all parts of the
Spanish Peninsula. I have very seldom found the
Black Kite in mountainous or even hilly districts, it
seems to affect especially the woods on the marshy
plains or the banks of large rivers. In general habits
this bird much resembles the Common Kite, but, as far
as my own experience goes, is more addicted to a diet of
reptiles, fishes, and insects than that species. In Spain
the present species generally nests in pine-trees, poplars,
or willows, at a considerable height from the ground:
several pairs are often to be found breeding in close
vicinity. I never noticed such a variety of rubbish in
the materials of the nests of the Black Kite as in those
of the “ Forky-tail,” as the Common Kite was frequently
called at the time when it really was “common” in this
country ; the eggs are white, with speckles and streaks
of rusty brown. In Central Spain we generally met
with large colonies of the so-called “Spanish” Sparrow
(Passer salicicolus) nesting in the immediate neighbour-
hood of both species of Kite, and in more than one
instance actually found nests of these Sparrows amongst
the foundations of those of the Kites.

, a 4 i -
7 4 ’ eof
» ee ' ,
; : te &
: a) - : '
?
i j : f
a .
: : : :
i} ——
1 ‘ . a
- y a 2 ‘
x ri E Ps ae A

CHROMO-LITHO. ART STUDIO. LONDON.

GYR-FALCON

Falco gyrfalco, Zz7z7.

GYR-FALCON,

FALCO GYRFALCO, Linn.

Falco gyrfaleco, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 180 (1766); Naum. xiii.
p. 22; Yarr. ed. 4, i. pp. 36, 46; Dresser, vi. p. 15.

Gerfaut de Norvége, French; Gierfalke, German; Gerifdlte,
Spanish.

I can only discover two records of the occurrence of
this Scandinavian Falcon in our country, viz. one
killed in Sussex in 1845, now in the collection of
Mr. W. Borrer, who tells us in his ‘ Birds of Sussex’
(1891) that his specimen, which he at first considered
as an Iceland Falcon, was identified as an adult of the
present species by the late Mr. John Henry Gurney.
Mr. Borrer, in the work to which I have just referred,
gives an excellent figure of this Falcon, which proves,
were any proof needed, the correctness of Mr, Gurney’s
identification. The other occurrence to which I have
alluded is recorded by Mr. H. Seebohm, ‘ British Birds,’
vol. 1. p. 19 (1883), who states that an immature
example of the “ Norwegian form of Jer-Falcon” was
shot at Orford, in Suffolk, in the act of devouring a
hen, on October 14th, 1867, and was, at the time of
Mr. Seebohm’s writing, in the possession of Mr. Ed.
Hunt, of Pimlico, the brother of its destroyer.

I will not go into the much disputed question of
specific distinction between the Gyr and Iceland Falcons
further than by saying that although the immature

birds are very closely alike in plumage, there is a
constant difference of “ make” and character between
them that would, I think, at once strike the eye of a
falconer ; about the adult birds there can hardly be
any mistake.

The Gyr-Falcon is from all accounts resident in many
parts of Scandinavia, where it nests in cliffs and high
trees, and preys principally upon Ptarmigan and Water-
fowl. It must be locally abundant, as John Wolley
found upwards of twenty nests in West Finmark ; and
the well-known falconer John Barr (who was sent to
Norway by Captain Dugmore and me some years ago
for the express purpose) succeeded in catching sixteen
fully fledged young birds of the year during a few
weeks’ stay in that country. ‘This Falcon was held in
high repute by ancient falconers ; but my small expe-
rience with it goes to prove that it evidently requires a
large expanse of open country to enable it to put forth
its best qualities, and that it is practically useless
amongst enclosures. The flight of the few of this
species that I have seen on wing under the disad-
vantages just mentioned, though strong and vigorous,
could not compare in speed with that of the Greenland
Falcon in the same circumstance; but I have never
seen the Gyr-Faleon in a wild state. One of these
birds was taken at Valkenswaard, in South Brabant,
many years ago to my certain knowledge, and is not, I
think, the only one that has been caught at the Hawk-
huts in that district ; but its range of migration appears
to be far more limited than those of the Iceland and
Greenland Falcons.

CHROMO-LITHO. ART STUDIO. LONDON.

1

4
ICELAND FALCON, adult Female.

Falco islandus, 7. 2: Gmelin

ICELAND FALCON,

FALCO ISLANDUS, J. F. Gmelin.

Falco islandus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 271 (1788); Naum.
xiii. p. 22; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p.46; Dresser, vi. p. 25.

Falco gyrfalco, Macg. iii. p. 284.

Falco islandicus, Hewitson, i. p. 22.

Gerfault Islandais, French; Isldndischer Falke, German.

This Falcon, although it breeds in Iceland, and is by
no means uncommon there, is, from all accounts, a less
frequent visitor to our Islands than the ‘“ Greenlander ;”
but it is more than probable that there may be some
confusion of these two species in the published records
of occurrences, and the fact that there are two well-
marked and distinct races of the present species, apart
from the Gyr-Falcon of Scandinavia, F. yyrfalco, has no
doubt tended to complicate correct identification. From
having kept some of all the three northern Falcons in
captivity, I am convinced that the Icelander, and the
true Gyr-Falcon to which I have just alluded, are suffi-
ciently distinct to be entitled to rank as separate species,
although I am quite willing to admit that the immature
birds are so much alike that no falconer, however expe-
rienced, could pronounce a decisive opinion upon their

specific identity. As I have never visited Iceland, I
can say nothing from personal experience of the habits
of this Falcon in a wild state, but I have heard much
about them from various persons who have observed
them closely in their home, especially from the late
Mr. Proctor, of Durham, who, if I recollect rightly, paid
several visits to Iceland for bird-collecting purposes.
From these accounts it seems that the ‘ Icelander”
closely resembles the Peregrine in its breeding-habits
and general manner of life. The nest is placed on the
ledges of cliffs and is more bulky than an average
Peregrine’s nursery, being composed of twigs of willow
and dead sticks, and lined with wool. Sea-fowl and
Waders form the principal diet of this Falcon, but a
friend who visited Iceland many years ago, and presented
me with a very fine skin of the present species, told me
that the Ptarmigan also suffer severely from the atten-
tions of our bird, who picks them up from the ground
more often than she takes them on wing. I do not
gather from my informant that the Falcon is by any
means specially addicted to the coasts for breeding or
other purposes, but this inference is probably due to
the fact that my information is derived from summer
visitors to Iceland. From a falconer’s point of view, I
have had but very slight acquaintance with the Iceland
Falcon, and am not inclined to rate her highly, but it
must be borne in mind that all the birds of this species
trained in this country have necessarily had the great
disadvantage of a sea-passage, and in many instances
have arrived so much damaged in plumage that they
could not be put on wing till after the first moult;

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

ICELAND FALCON, Female immature.

Falco islandus, J. F. Gmelin.

ss
all faleoners know how much Hawks suffer from a
lengthened period of inactivity. Our ancestors seem,
however, to have esteemed the “Icelanders” highly ;
there are traditions of their being trained to take the
Kite, and in more recent days a few of these Falcons
were flown at Herons with success in the Netherlands.

The late Mr. EH. Clough Newcome, certainly the first
amateur falconer of his day, owned several of these
Falcons, and spoke highly of the performance of one or
two of them, but on the whole did not care very much
about them, and infinitely preferred the “‘ passage”
Peregrine for practical purposes. The late Maharajah
Duleep Singh flew “Icelanders” with some success at
Hares in Suffolk, but I could not get an “ Icelander”
of mine to look at a live rabbit, and, indeed, I hold that
this sort of work is altogether beneath the hereditary
dignity of a true Falcon. In my experience I have
found the “Icelander” difficult to keep in health for
any length of time, even when the bird is constantly
exercised ; the feet especially generally go wrong sooner
or later, and are exceedingly difficult to treat success-
fully. In disposition this Falcon seems to be tameable
enough, but by no means remarkable for docility, of a
somewhat sluggish temperament, and it is by no means
so hardy as might be expected from the climatic con-
ditions of the country of its origin.

GREENLAND FALCON.

FALCO CANDICANS, J. F. Gmelin.

Falco candicans, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. i. p. 275 (1788) ; Naum.
i. p. 269, xiii. p. 16; Yarr. ed. 4,1. p. 86; Dresser, vi.
p. 21.

Falco gyrfalco, Macg. ui. p. 284.

Jagd-Falke, Edel-Falke, Griinlindischer-Falke, German.

This beautiful Falcon is a scarce and irregular winter
visitor to the United Kingdom. From the fact that
two, or perhaps three, species, of which the present
bird is one, were formerly lumped together under the
name of “Jer” (properly “‘ Gyr”) Falcons, a good deal
of confusion has arisen as to the identification in several
instances of the occurrence of the northern Falcons in
our Islands; but this species is to be distinguished at
all ages from the Iceland and Norway Falcons by the
fact (first made known by Mr. John Hancock) that the
ground-colour of its plumage is always white, whereas
the two birds last named have a generally darker
plumage, marked with white or light grey; to the eye
of a falconer there is a peculiar “ make” and character
about the Greenland Falcon that are quite sufficient to

GREENLAND FALCON,

Falco candicans, J. F. Gmelin.

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

enable him to identify her, even if she were jet-black.
An old gamekeeper, native of Rannoch, Perthshire, and
formerly in my employment in Inverness-shire, assured
me that the ‘“ White Falcons” very frequently visited
Loch Rannoch and Loch Tummel during the winter
months, and that he had at various times shot and
trapped four or five, and seen many others; one of
these victims I discovered in the shop of Mr. Paton, the
well-known gunmaker at Perth; it was a young male,
killed near Foss, on Loch Tummel, in the early spring
of 1862. I had the pleasure of presenting this speci-
men to the late EK. Clough Newcome, of Feltwell,
Brandon, Norfolk, an old and valued friend, and in
his day without a rival in this country as a practical
falconer.

John Campbell, the gamekeeper to whom I have
above alluded, told me that these “White Falcons’”’
seemed to prefer Rooks to any other quarry, but that
they made the wild fowl very “uneasy”; he never saw
one in pursuit of a Red Grouse, but once saw one make
an ineffectual stoop at an old Blackcock ; on the whole,
from his professional point of view, he did not look
upon the Greenlander as such “a bad vermin’’! as the
“Hunting Hawk,” @. e. Peregrine.

My experience of this bird in captivity is to the
effect that it is extremely docile, and a very fine and
powerful flyer and stooper, but what we call in falconry
a poor “footer,” that is, it is not able, or more pro-
bably not disposed, to bind to and grasp its quarry
firmly; it is also by no means hardy of constitution,
and is difficult to keep in good condition for field

purposes. This bird is known to breed in Greenland
and the arctic regions of continental North America ;
it has been met with in Northern Asia and Spitzbergen,
and seems to be a more or less regular autumnal visitor
to Iceland.

I must refer my readers to the fourth edition of
Yarrell’s ‘ British Birds’ for details relating to the high
value formerly set upon the Greenlanders by falconers,
who are said to have trained them successfully at
Cranes, Herons, Wild Geese, and ground-game; there
is also a tradition that they took Kites, but I do not
think that in this case the species of the captor is clearly
defined.

The Plate that accompanies this article was taken
from a very fine adult living female at Lilford, one of
the tamest Falcons that I ever knew; she has, I grieve
to say, departed this life since her portrait was taken.

a ee ei &

PEREGRINE FALCON,

FALCO PEREGRINUS, Tunstall.

Falco peregrinus, Tunstall, Ornith. Brit. p. 1 (1771) ; Naum.
i. p. 285; Macg. i. p. 294; Hewitson, i. p. 24; Yarr.
ed. 4,1. p. 53; Dresser, vi. p. 31.

Faucon commun, Faucon pélerin, French; Wanderfalke,
German ; Halcén, Halcon real, Spanish.

This most noble of birds, although ruthlessly per-
secuted by game-preservers in many districts, still
breeds annually on various parts of the coasts of the
three kingdoms and their adjacent islands, as well as
in some inland localities, but in most of our English
counties is best known as an autumnal visitor, generally
following the annual southward migration of Wild-fowl
and Wood-Pigeons, and frequently, if not molested,
remaining during the winter and late to the spring
in places that afford a sufficiency of prey and facilities
for the capture thereof.

I suppose that it would be a hopeless task to attempt
to explain to any but those few who love sport in its
higher sense for its own sake, the feeling that falconers
entertain for the Peregrine, hallowed to them as she is
by tradition of ages, and their most “ generous” and

.

| GE Lodge del. J Smit ith a
PEREGRINE FALCON.

Kaleo peregrinus, Tunstall .

1
FEMALE IN FOURTH YEAR.

x. i. Lads

e

del. J

Smut

lith

L
rN

PIMIVE GUN, EAT CON:
Falco peregrinus. Tunstall .

MALE IN FIRST YEAR

roe

StEA

=

v
) se
’
’
‘
unt
u \ he
eas { i
+
. P i
1
. ;
1 Ee
' ;
x ;
7 i x
‘ i i
‘
is M ii ,
at he
? i 4 ' 4
- A ve
fi r i } "
ig y
‘ Y) Loire Les 1
' ,
ir West en
~ i ‘ ay)
; . ma mf ee
‘ 5 Pile: at :
wh ? a
fess or i ra
é y * é se 7
ry te
x ; i I
5 ty F ye
fo 5 j ;
oe
2 rf ’ ‘ 4 ‘
* tons “
- ear b 1 ; apace
} bee ’ ; ;
.
, iy
wae
F
:
‘ ‘
i A
: oo
4
x *
’ *
<. a
= a :
Se =| a4 :
J . ay #6 a
> } by
Lh Coisth

efficient ally in the most interesting of the many
branches of field-sports. I do not pretend to claim for
my favourite bird the unquestioning attachment to its
master or the sagacity of the dog, or to compare its
merits and value with those of the horse; but I do
most strongly urge its claims to protection as affording
opportunities for most wholesome exercise of mental
and physical powers in training, flying, and following.
Some of my enthusiastic fellow-falconers have gone so
far as to deny altogether that our Falcon is prejudicial
to game; but this is an over-statement of the case
which in my opinion is detrimental to our cause; the
Peregrine can and does take Grouse and Partridges
when she gets a fair chance and is hungry, but it
must be remembered that as a rule she captures her
“quarry ’ in the air, and that our common game-birds
just mentioned are of terrestrial habits and certainly by
no means willing to take wing when a Falcon is in
sight, but do their utmost to squat close and conceal
themselves, so that they are by no means the habitual
or even (in my opinion) a particularly favourite prey of
the Peregrine. From my own experience in this country
and in other parts of Europe I am convinced that
Pigeons, the smaller species of the Duck family, espe-
cially Teal, and wading-birds of all kinds are the most
usual and most natural food of the Falcon, and I do
not think that the most ardent lover of the gun should
grudge her a due share of these. Personally I would
rather see one fine stoop of a wild or trained Falcon
than shoot and kill any bird that ever flew; but, of
course, I cannot expect many to agree with me on this

subject, and have written the above rhapsody simply as
an appeal to the few who can sympathize in the chief
delight of'a still smaller portion of the community.

The nest of the Peregrine is generally situated on a
ledge or in a cavity of sea-cliffs or inland crags, and has
been occasionally found on elevated buildings. The
eges are generally three, not uncommonly four, in
number.

In treating of this bird as above, from a falconer’s
point of view, I have advisedly used the feminine article,
as from that standpoint the word Falcon is applied
exclusively to the female bird, which is very much larger
and more powerful than the male, and consequently held
in higher estimation for sporting-purposes ; the latter,
in the language of falconry, is known as Tiercel. The
progress of cultivation and consequent enclosure have
virtually circumscribed the available area for falconry in
our country to a very great extent, an open treeless
district being the first essential to its successful prac-
tice ; but in spite of every difficulty the noble art is still
kept up in our islands, and by many of the officers of
our army in India, where it can be carried out in the
most favourable circumstances, with results quite unat-
tainable at home.

The Peregrine ranges over the whole of Europe and
Asia, and is represented by very closely allied forms in
Africa, Australia, and the New World.

4%

ee eee ee

HOBBY.

FALCO SUBBUTEO, Linn.

Falco Subbuteo, Linn. 8S. N. 1. p. 127; Naum. i. p. 296;
Macg. iii. p. 809; Hewitson, i. p. 26; Yarr. ed. 4, i.
p. 65; Dresser, vi. p. 69.

Le Hobereau, French; Baum-Falke, Lerchen-Falke, Ger-
man; Alcotan, Spanish.

One of the latest summer visitors to England, in
which country it is never abundant.

Breeds irregularly in several of the midland, eastern,
and southern counties.

It rarely visits Scotland or Ireland.

The Plates represent an adult male in full summer
plumage, and a bird in that of the first year.

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin-London

{ adult ).

EVO BBY

Falco subbuteo, Linn.

ale

HOBBY Gmmature,

Falco subbuteo, Zzzz
it

>

danhart Chramo-lth

‘uu ‘snuniedsea oe
‘NOOTy4aH GaLoodA-daa

*“Oy[I9g ‘9401p “AA *ONTIT

RED-FOOTED FALCON,

FALCO VESPERTINUS, Linn.

Falco vespertinus, Linn. 8. N.i. p. 129 (1766) ; Macg. iii.
p- 313; Hewitson, i. p. 28; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 69;
Dresser, vi. p. 93.

Falco rufipes, Naum. i. p. 311.

Faucon Kobez, French; Rothfuss-Falke, German.

This very beautiful little Falcon is an irregular and
uncommon visitor to the British Islands, in all proba-
bility for the good reason that these Islands lie far to
the westward of its breeding-haunts and its accustomed
routes of migration. To the Ionian Islands, where I
first made the acquaintance of this species, it is a
regular and, in some years, a very abundant vernal
visitor; but, so so far as I was able to ascertain, in
Corfu it only remains for a few days. I once fell in
with a small flock of Red-footed Falcons on the shores
of the Lake of Geneva in May 1851; I saw one on
wing in Andalucia in the early summer of 1884, and
found it in considerable numbers on one occasion only
in Cyprus, near Limasol, on May 6th, 1875.

This bird is eminently gregarious in habits, and in

this respect, as im many others, closely resembles the
Kestrels, especially the Lesser (/wlco cenchris). Itis,
however, more crepuscular than the Common Kestrel,
and, in my experience, is not very often to be seen on
wing hunting for food till late in the afternoon; and it
certainly frequently carries on its hunting long after the
sun has set. During the stay of these Falcons in Corfu
they seemed to spend the hot hours of the day perched in
small clusters on the tall cypresses and few poplars that
diversify the lovely scenery of the island; as the day
waned these birds might be observed hovering and
circling in every direction at a moderate height over
the fields and olive-groves, showing a decided predi-
lection for the neighbourhood of streams or ponds of
freshwater. They had no fear whatever of human
beings, and frequently flew past or hovered within
half a gun-shot of us as we sat or stood perfectly
unconcealed.

I believe that this Falcon takes its prey principally
on wing, but also not infrequently from the ground,
upon which it runs with remarkable ease and speed.
The stomach of a specimen killed in Corfu contained
portions of the remains of large moths, whilst the crop
of the only one that I cared to shoot for identification
in Cyprus was crammed with small dung-beetles.

Of the breeding-habits of this Falcon I know nothing
from personal observation. For a most interesting
account of the habits of this bird in Southern Russia I
will refer my readers to a translation given at length by
my friend Mr. H. E. Dresser in his great work, the
‘Birds of Europe,’ vol. 6. The Red-footed Falcon

breeds in small societics in Hungary and other parts of
South-eastern Europe; it generally occupies the aban-
doned nests of Crows or Magpies, and lays from four
to six eggs in May. With regard to the gregarious
breeding-habits of this species I well remember to have
heard a story many years ago from the late EH. Clough
Newcome to the effect that some Rooks being required
alive for the training of Peregrine Falcons at Vienna,
an emissary was despatched thence to a reported
“yookery” at some distance down the Danube, and
that on his arrival at the indicated locality he found
that the Rooks’ nests were entirely deserted by their
builders, and most of them occupied by Red-footed
Falcons.

The ery of this Falcon closely resembles those of the
Hobby and the Lesser Kestrel, but is quite distin-
guishable from either by any one conversant with the
smaller Falconide.

In my experience the present species very seldom
comes alive into the hands of bird-dealers in this
country, and is difficult to keep in captivity through the
cold months, although I have not a doubt that during
the summer it would thrive at ‘‘ hack,” ¢. e. at liberty,
if taken from the nest, and “ reclaimed,’ or broken to
the fist, before it could fly. I consider the name
“Orange-legged Hobby,’ that has frequently been
applied by English writers to this Falcon, as quite a
misnomer, and I look upon it in almost every respect as

being essentially of the Kestrel family.

MERLIN,

FALCO AiSALON, Tunstall.

’

Falco salon, Tunstall, Ornith. Brit. p. 1 (1771) ; Naum. i.
p. 303; Macg. ii. p. 317; Hewitson, i. p. 80; Yarr.
ed, 4,1. p. 74; Dresser, vi. p. 83.

Faucon Emérillon, French; Zwerg-Falke, German; Esme-
rejon, Spanish.

This beautiful little Falcon breeds on moorlands
throughout the British Isles, and several instances of
its nesting in trees in parts of our country where no
moors exist are on record; but as a rule in the culti-
vated and woodland districts of Central and Southern
England it is best known as a bird of double passage,
closely attending the migratory hordes of Finches and
Larks on their autumnal migration, and reappearing
casually in early spring. On many parts of our coasts
the Merlin remains throughout the winter months, and
plays havoc amongst the smaller Waders and other
shore-frequenting birds.

The nest of this bird is generally situated on a
tussock on the open moor, the bank of a moorland
burn or ‘scaur,” and occasionally in rocks; it consists

i
i
i
b
'
}

4 ee
Borg

ry Se

pole

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

MERLIN, adulé nial.

Falco xsalon, Tunstall.

rittsh Islands a ee ee a ee

STN teniviceeen

~~ 4
‘

“ at” .
- aaa

Litho. W. Greye Berlin.

MERLIN, adult female & immature mate.

Falco zsalon, Funstail.

Pad;
‘

of a few twigs loosely laid together. The eggs, seldom
more than four in number, do not vary nearly so much
inter se as those of the Kestrel, but are generally more
uniformly coloured, smaller, and not so rounded as
those of that well-known bird. The Merlin is, for its
size, a very powerful bird, and a beautiful flyer, very
persistent in pursuit. IT have seen but very little of its
performances as a trained bird; but it has been, and
still is occasionally, used to take Larks, Blackbirds, and
Thrushes ; and I have seen a trained female take a
House-Pigeon after a long and difficult flight. When
a Merlin’s nest is approached the old birds show con-
siderable courage in flying at human beings, dogs, or
large predatory birds; but my experience does not
lead me to credit them with the pluck and dash that is
generally attributed to them. Inquisitiveness seems to
be a prominent trait in this species, for I have re-
peatedly seen wild Merlins come to observe the pro-
ceedings of trained Peregrines on the wing, and more
than once noticed one hovering over hooded Hawks on
their “cadge.” ‘The Merlin seldom flies at any great
height, except, of course, when in pursuit of any
soaring quarry, or bound on a lengthy journey. In
our district of Northamptonshire, where this species is
by no means rare on passage, we generally notice it
flying low along the course of our river or tributary
brooks, or along the fence-sides, in search or pursuit
of small birds. An old Wagtail or Pipit cuts out
a Merlin’s work for her; and I have often witnessed
beautiful and prolonged flights at these birds, which

generally, in the winter season, terminated in favour of

the intended victim. On the high moorlands, however,
I believe that young Meadow-Pipits form the principal
diet of the Merlin during the summer months. Many
gamekeepers consider our bird as very destructive
amongst young Grouse ; but although I am well aware
that the Merlin will take its prey on the ground more
readily perhaps than any European Falcon except the
Kestrel, I do not think that any serious amount of harm
can be caused by it amongst game-birds, as, whilst they
are small enough to be liable to attack from the Merlin,
they are jealously tended and protected by their parents.
In captivity the Merlin is remarkably docile, but re-
quires great care and skilful management to keep it for
any length of time in good flying condition.

a)

Mintern Bros. imp.

KESTREL.
Falco timnuneculus,Linn.

KESTREL.

FALCO TINNUNCULUS, Linn.

Falco tinnunculus, Linn. S. N.i. p. 127 (1766) ; Naum. i.
p- 823; Macg. ii. p. 325; Hewitson, 1. p. 382; Yarr,
ed. 4, i. p. 78; Dresser, vi. p. 118.

Faucon-cresserelle, French; Thurm-Falke, Riittel-Falke,
German ; Primilla, Cernicalo, Spanish.

In spite of the senseless persecution to which it is
exposed, this beautiful and interesting bird is still
tolerably common in many parts of our country, and
its habits are probably too well known to those who
take any interest in birds to render any lengthened
notice necessary at my hands. In the part of England
with which I am best acquainted I consider the Kestrel
to be a regular migrant, appearing in force in March ;
these birds pair shortly after their arrival, and generally
take possession of an old nest of Crow, Magpie, or
Rook. Throughout the early summer a_ hovering
Kestrel or two may be seen daily in our neighbourhood,
and as soon as our meadows are cleared of their crops
we often see five or six of these very ornamental birds
on wing together diligently exaiminng the ground for
the various animals that constitute their usual diet, e.g.

|

voles, field-mice, frogs, grasshoppers, beetles, and earth-
worms.

Most of our Kestrels leave us towards the end of
October, and during really severe weather we seldom
see one; but in mild winters a few remain after the
main body has passed to the south. In Northamp-
tonshire the country-people generally call this bird
“ Sparrow-Hawk ;” but gamekeepers have good reason
to know the very obvious differences of habit and
appearance between the present species and the bird
that properly bears the latter designation. The Kestrel
will now and then take a young game-bird on the
ground ; but the good service done by this species in
the destruction of noxious animals, to say nothing of
the beauty of its flight, ought to ensure it from
slaughter in the supposed interests of sport. I know
that it is almost useless to protest against the perse-
cution of this, as any other species, by the emissaries of
bird-stuffers and plume-dealers, the only hope that one
may reasonably entertain in this connexion is for an
improvement in taste and sense of decency.

The Kestrel is more or less common throughout
Europe, and is exceedingly abundant in Spain, where
it is to be found nesting in almost every church-tower
or ruin in town and country in company with its very
close congener—the Lesser or White-clawed Kestrel
(F. cenchris). 1 need hardly say that the present
species is useless for the purposes of falconry ; but it is
an interesting pet, and may be kept quite tame in

perfect liberty.

se ee ee ee a ee ae ene an, ee a _ — a —_— = — - eo ae hp ae aes ‘tm 3 tis - - = 22 a i |
- : Ay 2%

fe,
2 i
: a = ws . 4
a: a a ‘ ‘ 4
* z : Me : Se
a se Use

. = - 4 . 5 3 =

{ 4

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

LESSER KESTREL.

Falco cenchris, Naum.

LESSER KESTREL.

FALCO CENCHRIS, Naum.

Faleo cenchris, Naum. Vog. Deutsch. i. p. 318 (1822) ;
Yarr. ed. 4, 1. p. 82; Dresser, vi. p. 125.

Crécerelle crécerellette, French; Réothel-Falke, German ;
Primilla, Primita, wrongly Cernicalo, Spanish.

This beautiful little falcon is a “ Southerner,” and its
visits to the British Islands, and, indeed, to any part of
Northern Europe, are exceptional and irregular. Mr.
Howard Saunders, in his ‘ Manual,’ records two occur-
rences of the Lesser Kestrel in England, one in Yorkshire
in November 1867, and another near Dover in 1877 ; to
these may be added that of an adult male killed near
Shankill, Co. Dublin, on February 17, 1891, and another,
of the same sex, shot during the first week of March
1891, in Tresco, Scilly; these two latter occurrences
are recorded in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1891, pp. 152,
153, by Mr. A. G. More and Mr. J. H. Jenkinson
respectively. The Tresco specimen was most obligingly
lent for the purposes of the present work by Mr. Dorrien
Smith (to whom I am indebted for many valuable loans),
and is the bird represented in the accompanying Plate.

I may mention that the female of this species so closely
resembles the Common Kestrel that I do not consider
it necessary to give a representation of her, the only
constant differences between females of these two species
being the smaller size and the white claws of the present
bird. .The Lesser Kestrel abounds in Andalucia, and
is also common in many districts of Central Spain;
in general habits, flight, and cry it is barely to be dis-
tinguished from the larger species, but it is perhaps more
exclusively insectivorous than the Common Kestrel, and
rarely, in my experience, nests in trees. It is of course
difficult to compute the numerical proportion of two very
similar species when seen in the air together, but I am
disposed to consider the Lesser Kestrel as more abundant
in Andalucia during the summer months than its larger
congener.

My kindly readers will, I trust, pardon me for sum-
ming up my remarks on the Little Kestrel by quoting
from my own “ Notes on the Ornithology of Spain”
published in the ‘ Ibis’ for 1865 :—'The two species of
Kestrel are, I think, in April and May, the commonest
birds in Andalucia, with perhaps the exception of the
Bee-eater. Every church-steeple, belfry, and tower,
every town and village, every ruin swarms with them; I
believe I am not at all beyond the mark in saying that
I have seen three or four hundred on wing at the same
moment on more than one occasion, notably at Castro
del Rio in April 1864. Both species of Kestrel continue
on wing long after dark.” I would amend the last
sentence by substituting the word sunset for “ dark.”
The eggs of this species are of a lighter colour than the

oy

average productions of the Common Kestrel, and,
naturally, considerably smaller; they are generally laid
in holes of stone- or brick-work without any attempt at
a nest, and I have several times found them within reach
from the ground without any necessity for climbing to
obtain them. <A few Little Kestrels remain in Southern
Spain through the winter months, but the great majority
arrive in February or early in March, and leave the
country about the end of September. ‘The principal food
of the Lesser Kestrel consists of beetles, locusts, and
grasshoppers ; to the best of my belief their prey is
invariably taken on the ground.

t =
ad Lae 7
me :
4
s
Un
7
ay
rs to
<A
,
4
'
i
i ‘
r
}
' <= aa
— v
“APs »
3 re 1
(

‘Cuup snizequinjed injsy

nua inp? “A KKWH-SOD

‘ayag A289 “AL “OUNIT UL yy 9 oy,
fhe

GOS-HA WK.

ASTUR PALUMBARIUS (Linn.).

Falco palumbarius, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 180 (1766); Naum. i.
p. 249.

Accipiter palumbarius, Macg. iii. p. 340.

Astur palumbarius, Hewitson, i. p. 384; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 83 ;
Dresser, v. p. 587.

Autour, French; Habicht, German; Azor, Gavilan,
Spanish.

Although this fine Hawk is by no means uncommon
in Germany and certain districts of Northern France,
and there is good evidence of its having formerly bred in
Scotland, it is now only known as a rare and irregular
visitor to Great Britain, and I have only once seen a
freshly-killed British Gos-Hawk; this bird I found on
the counter of the shop of the well-known Mr. B. Lead-
beater, of Brewer Street, about the end of March 1864,
and was informed by him that he had just received it
for preservation from Sir Robert Sheffield, Bart., of
Normanby Park: several years after this the late Lord
Kesteven mentioned this occurrence to me, and informed

me that another Gos-Hawk was noticed at the same

time about the same locality as that im which the bird
above referred to was killed, and that an empty nest,
supposed: to have been built by these Hawks, was
discovered by Sir Robert’s gamekeeper. In November
1888 the present Lord Kesteven was good enough, at
my request, to make further inquiry into this matter,
with the following result :—Firstly, a letter signed
“ Frank Sheffield,” to the effect that “A Gos-Hawk was
killed some 25 years ago, in the spring, on Sir Robert
Sheffield’s property by the head-keeper. A pair of
Gos-Hawks frequented a large larch-plantation for some
time, and the specimen shot, and stuffed by Leadbeater,
was the female; a large nest was found near the place,
and the male, though seen for a day or two following
(the death of his mate), did not remain. ‘The specimen
is still at Normanby Park. Secondly, a letter addressed
to Lord Kesteven by Mr. J. C. Sheffield, who, enclosing
the letter just quoted from his brother, adds, “I also
wrote to the gamekeeper at Normanby for information ;
he says, ‘My father shot the Gos-Hawk, but I cannot
tell you the year, I remember it was the day before a
Good Friday ; there was another about at the time, but
they could not get it, and some little time afterward we
found the nest they had built in the Warren plantation,
about 20 yards from where my father shot the bird at

999

roost in a larch-tree.’”’ This statement is unsigned, but *
Mr. J. Sheffield, in the same letter to Lord Kesteven,
enclosed a note, dated Burton-on-Stather, Doncaster,
November 15, 1888, which runs thus :—“ Hon‘ Sir, The
Gos-Hawk was killed March 27, 1864. I am, Sir, your

ob’ servant, Jas. Coutrnaurst, Jun.” I[ do not think

RAGIN “AL

OUT

‘Cuue7) Sniiequmyed injsy

ana psa Jo efound “WA WH-SOD

1
Athy
a
uy w

Gs
it probable that the nest alluded to in the above letters
was built by the Gos-Hawks; but as this is the latest
recorded instance within my knowledge of a pair of these
birds having been observed in company in England, I
have given the full details of the occurrence as commu-
nicated to me. I may mention that Normanby is within
a short distance of Brigg, in North Lincolnshire.

The Gos-Hawk is a forest-loving bird, and, in my
experience, is especially addicted, though by no means
exclusively confined, to coniferous districts in the breed-
ing-season ; in most of its habits, as in general form
and adult plumage, this bird closely resembles the
Sparrow-Hawk, but it has a very decided taste for
mammalian “ quarry,’ which is not apparently shared in
by its smaller congener. A hungry Gos-Hawk will, as
falconers say, “go at anything” that offers a chance,
from a hare to a field-mouse, or from a Capercailzie to
a Hedge-Sparrow, and, although its performances in a
trained condition are, from a sporting point of view,
hardly worthy of mention in comparison with those of
the true Falcons, it cannot be denied that in very many
parts of England a good Hawk of this species would
keep the pot boiling for a family, who would starve if it
had to depend upon captures made by the nobler bird.
Failing a country adapted for Fulconry in the restricted
sense of the term, a good and well-trained “ Gos” will
afford a certain amount of sport and plenty of exercise
to her owner; but the manners and customs of this
species in a state of servitude to man have been so
enthusiastically set forth by a far more able and expe-
rienced “ Licensed Hawker” than myself in a most

practical and excellent work, entitled ‘Valconry, its
Claims, History, and Practice’ (London, 1859), that I
should find it difficult to avoid “cribbing” in dilating
upon this aspect of the Gos-Hawk’s character. The
nests of this bird that I have seen were large, rather
shallow structures, placed on the lateral boughs of coni-
ferous trees, at a considerable height from the ground,
and composed of sticks and twigs; the eggs, three or
four in number, are of a greenish white. My friend
Col. E. Delmé Radcliffe, a past master in Falconry and
all matters relating to the habits of raptorial birds,
assures me that in Germany the Gos-Hawks take many
Owls, and I have always found my trained birds ready
and eager to fly at Barn-Owls when they had a chance
of dog so; on one occasion my falconer found a Tawny
Owl in the clutches of one of the Gos-Hawks at her
perch in our flower-garden, and was in time to liberate
the incautious hooter almost uninjured; but, as I have
already said, hardly any flying or running animal that
it can master comes amiss to this Hawk, and the list of
captures at various times by trained Gos-Hawks in my
possession includes hares, rabbits, rats, squirrels, stoats,
weasels, a cat, Owls, Blackbirds, Thrushes, Wood-Pigeons,
Pheasants, Waterhens, and Wild Ducks. In one nest
of this species in Old Castile we found a skull of a young
Kestrel probably taken from its nursery, and I have
heard of instances in which young Honey-Buzzards have
suffered a similar fate. I have met with this species
frequently in the Guadarramas, less often in Andalucia,
and in Switzerland and Rhenish Prussia during the
summer months, and in the island of Sardinia and

European Turkey in the winter. In common with most
of the raptorial birds that breed in Northern Europe,
many Gos-Hawks migrate southwards in autumn, and

the range of this species extends from Lapland and
Siberia to N. India and Algeria, and from Portugal to
China and Japan.

Both the drawings for the accompanying Plates were
taken from living birds at Lilford.

65

SPARROW-HAWK.

ACCIPITER NISUS (Linn.).

Falco Nisus, Linn. 8S. N.1. p. 130 (1766).
Falco nisus, Naum. i. p. 258.
Accipiter nisus, Macg. iii. p. 346; Hewitson, i. p. 85; Yarr.
ed. 4,1. p.88; Dresser, v. p. 599.
Epervier, French; Finken-Habicht, German; Gavilan,
Milano jaspeado, Spanish.

A very common resident in almost all parts of Great
Britain and Ireland.

The Sparrow-Hawk, in common with almost all the
raptorial birds of Northern Europe, follows the irregular
partial autumnal migrations southwards of the small
birds upon which it preys.

The four Plates represent an adult and a yearling
female, and males of the same respective ages.

I have not been able to procure a very old female, in
which the plumage closely resembles that of the adult

male.

ad

art Uhromo hth.

anh

Ei

=
58s

. )
Linw }

{,

niles

SPARROW-HAW K ,
Accipiter nisus

oe,

SPARROW-HAWE. °

Accipiter nisus (Z7m72.)

SPARROW-HAWEK (male timmature)

Accipiter nisus (Zz7272.)

SPARROW-HAWKEK (female immature).

Accipiter nisus (Zzz72.)

“
-

SP ee Ee, Se ae ean eee eee ee oe

apoU “py Aue)
“(UU T ) snsourgn..e2 SNLOAT)
Saal RRIVE-HS av

YT FUG

MARSH-HARRIER.

CIRCUS A¢RUGINOSUS (Linn.).

Falco eruginosus, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 1380 (1766).
Falco rufus, Naum. i. p. 378.
Circus eruginosus, Macg. iii. p. 382; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 127;
Dresser, v. p. 415.
Circus rufus, Hewitson, i. p. 44.
Busard des marais, French; Rohr-Weihe, German; Agui-
lucho, Rapifia, Spanish.

This bird, which was formerly common and resident
in most of the extensive fens and marshes of England
and Ireland, is now comparatively seldom to be met
with, owing, of course, to the reclamation of many of
its ancient strongholds, and the sedulous attentions of
gamekeepers and bird-collectors. It is still abundant in
almost all the great marshes of Central and Southern
Europe. I have seen twenty-six on wing together in
Epirus, and in the lower marisma of the Guadalquivir
more or less of this species are constantly to be seen
searching for prey along the reeds that fringe the river,
or skimming low over the vast muddy plains that extend
to the horizon. The plumage depicted in the first of
the two accompanying Plates is that of a very old male

bird, and it seems that very few specimens have been
obtained in this dress in our country. The other Plate
represents a bird in its first year, and was taken from a
living specimen at Lilford.

The Marsh-Harrier is almost omnivorous, and par-
ticularly addicted to devouring eggs; most of my readers
who have pursued Snipes in the south or east of Europe
will agree with me in considering the present birds as
unmitigated nuisances, not only on account of their
carrying off any wounded Snipes, but also because their
continual harrying of the ground often renders the
Snipes unapproachable, or drives them right away. In
our fen-country this bird was generally known as the
Moon-Buzzard, and I have heard marvellous stories of
its former abundance and depredations in the neighbour-
hood of Whittlesea Mere; now I do not suppose that a
Moon-Buzzard is to be seen in that district more than
once perhaps in three years. I have myself seen several
of this species in the “ Broad” country of Norfolk, one
in Cambridgeshire, one in Northamptonshire, and many
years ago a good many in Ireland and Wales.

UDAN Jsay fo IUDULY) |

“MUN ) SMSOUIGI AO? SLL)

isl UWI HSH VIN

;
ZF,
Fes
zt
4 j
i 4 7
2
- =
aS
- . >
)
ae
J
- 3 iS We r
*
Ny 5 = : 7
= 4a 5

*(uurt) SnauvAD SNodIID

SAAIAUVH-NG4H

sursog, 9A925) “MA “ONT

HEN-HARRIER.

CIRCUS CYANEUS (Linn.).

Falco cyaneus, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 126 (1766).

Circus cyaneus, Macy. iii. p. 366 ; Hewitson, i. p. 47; Yarr.
ed. 4, i. p. 132; Dresser, v. p. 431.

Falco pygargus, Naum. i. p. 391.

Busard St.-Martin, French; Korn-Weihe, German; Ce-
nizo, Spanish.

This bird, which formerly was to be met with more
or less frequently in all the uncultivated districts of any
extent in the British Islands, is now, with the exception
of a few localities, only known as a casual and by
no means a common bird of passage. Every man’s
hand is against the Harrier, not only on account of its
ravages amongst young poultry and game birds, but
also because eggs of all sorts are a very favourite dainty
with all the European members of this family ; to what
extent the Hen-Harrier may atone for delinquencies of
this kind by the destruction of mice and voles I am
unable to say, as my acquaintance with this species im
cur country is very limited. I have, however, had
ample opportunities for observation of the habits of the
Hen-Harrier abroad, and it is from my foreign expe-

riences that I mainly quote in the following remarks.

This bird is essentially a frequenter of the open
country, be it heath and furze-clad common, fen, or
corn-land: the nest is usually, if not invariably, placed
on the ground, on a bare spot amongst furze, heather,
or sedge; in certain localities a field of growing wheat,
barley, oats, or rye is often selected as a secure nesting-
place, the essentials bemmg concealment and_ security
from disturbance. ‘The few nests of the Hen-Harrier
that I have seen were composed entirely of dry sedge
or coarse grass, very loosely put together, ‘The eggs,
three or four in number, are of a very pale blue-green,
often freckled with specks of light rust-colour; the
young birds can generally fly about the end of June.
During the sitting-time the female Harrier is fed by
the male, who drops the prey to her as he hovers above
her; this is done so instantaneously that to any one
watching from a distance the action is hardly percep-
tible. Besides the localities to which I have referred
the Hen-Harrier habitually nests im undrained fen-
lands amidst reeds and sedge; but, as a rule, I consider
this species, from my own acquaintance with it, as less
of a marsh bird than either of the other two British
Harriers. In quest of food the Hen-Harrier is most
systematic, regularly frequenting the same spots day
after day about the same hour, and quartering the
“beat” m every direction in an apparently desultory
but virtually most thorough-going fashion. The flight
of this species is very hght and buoyant, and as noise-
less as that of the larger Owls. A friend, who is a
most excellent observer and specially acquainted with
raptorial birds, informs me that when a Hen-Harrier

t/
puts a covey of Partridges into a fence for concealment
it takes its “stand” hard by on some perch whence it
can command the situation, and remains perfectly
motionless till some movement on the part of one of
the covey betrays its whereabouts, when the Harrier is
down on it in a second, and the career of the game
bird is at an end. All the Harriers are especially fond
of frogs and lizards, and some of them often capture
and devour small snakes.

In captivity I have found this species wild, sulky,
and by no means easy to keep in good health. In
Devonshire this bird, and probably Montagu’s Harrier
also, are, or were, commonly known as “ Vuzkits,”
7. e. Furze-Kites ; in Ireland they have been pointed out
to me as “ Gos-Hawks,” no doubt properly Gorse-
Hawks; and in Scotland I have heard the male
called “Blue Glead,” and the female distinguished as
Ringtail.

a

Litho. W. Greve. Berlin.

MONTAGUS HARRIER. Adult and immature males.

Circus cineraceus (Montagu).

suypeg ‘4219 *M ‘OUDET

‘(némjuoyg) SNBdeIBUID SNdIID

‘agpyy fo wmwof yuvp pun ‘anwag ‘AHIAAVYH SNOWLNOW

MONTAGU’S HARRIER,

CIRCUS CINERACEUS (Montagu).

Falco cineraceus, Montagu, Orn. Dict. i. IF. 2 (1802) ; Naw.
i. p. 402.
Cireus cineraceus, Macg. iii. p. 378; Hewitson, 1. p. 49;
Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 1388; Dresser, v. p. 423.
Busard cendré, French ; Wiesen-Weihe, German ; Cenizo,
Rapiia, Spanish.

This species was first distinguished and separated from
the Hen-Harrier by the acute naturalist whose name it
bears, in his ‘ Ornithological Dictionary,’ published in
1802, under the name of Ash-coloured Harrier, a/co
cineraceus. No raptorial bird has now a chance of
becoming common in this country, but I suspect that in
the southern counties of England, at all events, this
Harrier was formerly the most abundant of its gexus
during the summer months, as it most assuredly is at
the present time, although it generally meets with
“short shrift’ from gamekeepers and collectors. I
am, however, glad to say that I am personally acquainted
with several recent instances in which nests of Montagu’s
Harrier have been carefully protected by those most
nearly concerned, and the young birds allowed to grow

and take wing without molestation. As no good cause
is promoted by over-statement, I will not attempt to deny
that all the Harriers are egg-stealers, but I would at the
same time remind game-preservers and our unfortunate
British agriculturists, that these birds are very active
and sharp-eyed enemies to field-mice, moles, and voles.
To the “ British bird-collector,” I fear that any appeal
on behalf of a comparatively scarce bird is only a waste
of time, and I can only say that these Harriers, in my
opinion, add greatly to the beauty and interest of the
moor-lands and marshes that still exist in our over-
crowded country. Montagu’s Harrier is a summer
visitor to those parts of Europe in which it breeds, and,
when allowed to live, leaves our Islands in October.
A certain number of this species, however, visit this
country from the Continent on the autumnal migration,
and (I write under correction) most of the records of
occurrence at that season refer to birds of the year. ‘To
those acquainted with the four European Harriers, the
adult males of this species may easily be distinguished
from those of the Hen-Harrier by their darker colouring,
their greater comparative length of wing, and their more
buoyant and irregular flight ; and having stated this, I
can write positively of having seen old male Montagu’s
Harriers on several occasions in Cambridgeshire, Norfolk,
and Devonshire. I never had the good fortune to find,
or even to see, an occupied nest of this bird in England,
and it was in Southern Spain that I first became in-
timately acquainted with it in its breeding-haunts. It
arrives in Andalucia in April, and for some time after

its arrival seemed (in my experience) to remain in

suitable localities near the sea; as the season advances
these birds continue their journey, generally singly or
in pairs, up the valley of the Guadalquivir and nest
abundantly in the great marshes and corn-lands below
Seville. On one occasion, when posted ina pit in the open
“marisma”’ for Great Bustard shooting, I noticed at least
seventy of the present species passing steadily to the
northward, evidently on migration, within shot of me,
besides many at various greater distances ; these birds,
without exception, flew within a few feet of the ground,
without pausing to hunt or reconnoitre the territory,
and were, in my opinion, all bound for some special
breeding-places already determined upon in what I must
call their minds. ‘This was the only instance in which
I ever witnessed a numerous “ passage” of these
Harriers, but I have several times observed one or two
crossing the open sea. Once established in their
nesting-quarters, these birds are constantly to be seen
scouring the country in all directions, now and then
hovering for a few moments, and occasionally alighting
to devour or to pick up some prey. ‘They are easily
attracted by an imitation of the call of the Quail, and
no doubt catch many of those birds upon the ground ;
but I do not remember ever to have seen one of these
Harriers in pursuit of any flymg fowl, and I know that
in Andalucia their diet consists chiefly of frogs, lizards,
various insects, worms, small rodents, and the eggs of
eround-breeding birds. Colonel Irby, in his ‘ Orni-
thology of the Straits of Gibraltar,’ mentions that he
found a regular “colony” of this species breeding on a salt

marsh in Morocco, and I am assured of such cases in

Spain, but personally I never knew of more than three
or four nests in close proximity: these nests are generally
placed upon bare ground in small open spots amongst
low vegetation in the dry marshes, or amongst the
standing corn ; we never found one in the reed-beds that
are so dear to the Marsh-Harrier. A few dry twigs or
pieces of reed-stem, with a lining of sedge, are the usual
nesting-materials. ‘The eggs are white with a very slight
greenish-blue tinge, and occasionally show a few pale
rust-coloured spots; four is the usual complement. I
feel certain that the male bird oceasionally takes his
turn at incubation.

The dark brown or black variety figured in one
of my Plates is by no means uncommon: I have at
this time of writing, November 1893, a very fine
living specimen of this race received during the past
summer from a nest in France; in this individual
the irides are very nearly as dark as the pupils, and
exhibit a marked contrast in this respect to those of its
companion of the same species but of the normal type
of plumage, whose irides are pale yellow.

This Harrier, according to Yarrell, has a wide range,
and has been recorded as occurring in Caithness, Ceylon,
the Canaries, and China. I have frequently observed
this bird from the train whilst travelling through France
in the summer months. I was assured by the late
John Barr that he took several Montagu’s Harriers near
Chalons-sur-Marne with the trained Falcons belonging
to the Champagne Hawking Club, during his term of
service as falconer to that society. A few of the present
species spend the winter in Andalucia.

Phe
~

‘(uyamy vq ‘p) snany sd&5

‘AANLTINAA NOAATAS

aye “BABIN “AL OUNT

GRIFFON VULTURE.

GYPS FULVUS (J. F. Gmelin).

Vultur fulvus, Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1. p. 249 (1788) ; Naum. i.
p. 162; Hewitson, 1. p. 3.
Gyps fulvus, Yar. ed. 4, 1. p. 1; Dresser, v. p. 373.

Vautour Griffon, French; Weisskopfiger Geier, German ;
Buitre, Pajaraco, Spanish.

One capture only of this Vulture has hitherto been
recorded as having occurred in our Islands; the indi-
vidual in question, now preserved in the Museum of
Trinity College, Dublin, was caught alive near Cork
Harbour in the spring of 1843. Although this specimen
is undoubtedly, as Mr. H. Saunders says, in immature
plumage, I here give a representation taken from life of a
fully adult bird, for the reason that Gould, in his ‘ Birds
of Europe,’ figures an immature bird of this species,
and, with ail due deference to my friend Mr. Dresser, I
cannot consider that the excellent first plate of this bird
in his work was taken from a very old specimen. It
must, however, be remembered that “old” is, with
regard to Vultures, a very indefinite term ; personally I
should not consider a Griffon Vulture fully mature till
it had attained the age of at least seven or eight years.

With regard to the probability of the Trish specimen
having escaped from captivity, I can only say that there
is nothing in any way impossible in its having found
its way voluntarily from the north of Spain, where the
species is locally very common; a flight of three or
four hundred miles would hardly overstrain the staying-
powers of a Griffon, even on the supposition that it
came to Ireland straight across the sea from the Can-
tabrian Mountains. The reason of its visit is difficult
to conjecture, as I imagine that unburied remains of
animals must have always been more abundant in the
neighbourhood of the bird’s home (supposing him to
have been of Spanish origin) than in the “ distressful
country,” even in the worst of times. I may here say
that the details of another occurrence of the Griffon,
alluded to by Mr. Saunders in his ‘ Manual,’ are well
known to me, and that I have not the slightest doubt as
to correct identification in this instance. I can claim an
intimate acquaintance with the present species in Spain,
Sardinia, North Africa, European Turkey, and Cyprus,
and have also observed it rarely in Northern Italy, in
Sicily, and in Crete. The Griffon Vulture and its habits
in Spain, North Africa, and Palestine have been so fully
and so ably described by Colonel Irby, Canon Tristram,
Mr. O. Salvin, and other writers, that to give details of
my own experience on the subject would be little more
than vain repetition. I will therefore only summarize
from my notes and journals on the subject with regard
to the first-mentioned of these countries,—my well-
beloved Spain. There is, I imagine, hardly a square mile
of Andalucia from which it would not be possible to

observe one or more of these Vultures on any day of
the year; in Central Spain also the Griffon is common
enough in all suitable localities, although perhaps not so
abundant there as the Cinereous, or so-called “ Black”
Vulture (Vultur cinereus). I have seen it in Galicia
occasionally, and found it nesting in large colonies on
the frontiers of Asturias and Santander, as also in
Guipuzcoa and Navarra. In Aragon, Cataluia, and
Valencia it did not appear to me to be so abundant as in
the other provinces. ‘The Griffon is naturally a bird of the
Sierras, and, although constantly to be met with in the
plains at all seasons, its visits thereunto are induced
solely by “ questions of supply.” The ancient idea that
Vultures find the carcases that furnish their almost
exclusive diet by scent has long been exploded. Mr.
Saunders has pithily summed up their system of tele-
graphy in about three lines, for which I refer my readers
to the oft-quoted ‘ Manual.’

The Griffon Vulture makes a large nest of sticks and
grass, and lays one or two white eggs, generally about
the end of February. The nests are usually placed on
the ledges or in the cavities of weather-worn ranges of
cliffs, and as several, often many, pairs of these carrion-
feeders nest in close proximity to each other, and there
is almost always a gathering-place for the unemployed
of their community in the immediate neighbourhood of
the breeding-establishment, it will be readily believed
that many wild and picturesque mountain-gorges in
Spain lack the charm of fragrance during the season of
flowers—in fact, these Vulture-haunted cliffs smell most
abominably, in spite of the frequent abundance of

aromatic shrubs at their bases. The young Griffons
remain in their nests till June, and, although I am well
aware that these birds can live without suffering from a
want of food for almost incredible periods, it is a con-
stant subject of wonder how the great numbers that
inhabit Southern Spain can possibly find the means of
subsistence. ‘I'o those who have never visited a country
where Vultures are virtually the only efficient inspectors
of nuisances and scavengers, it will perhaps be difficult
to believe that im Andalucia I have very frequently seen
more of this species at the same time than I could pos-
sibly count, soaring in concentric circles, tier above tier,
if I may use the term, over the carcases of horned cattle
and horses. A more disgusting sight than some twenty
or more of these huge birds tearing at and quarrelling
over the remains of a semi-putrid beast can hardly be
imagined, but on wing, and high in air, the Griffon is
a magnificent bird as he sails for hours at a time with
hardly any perceptible motion in the splendid deep blue
of an Andalucian summer sky. I have called the eggs
of this species “white,” but some specimens show
blotches and spots of iron-rust colour. I am not aware
that the Griffon in Europe ever nests in trees, or,
indeed, in any other locality than cliffs; but, although
the nests are generally very difficult of access, this is by
no means invariably the case. The subject of the Plate
was taken from an isolated nest near Irun in May 1867
by a shepherd-lad who clambered up to it from below,
and to his and our own astonishment met us prepared
for the capture of the nestling with ropes and a hired
climber at the top of the cliff. We had started from

San Sebastian under the guidance of an English friend,
who had discovered the nest some days previously, and
had engaged mules, climber, and ropes at Irun for the
attack, having to make a considerable detour to reach
the summit of the scrub-covered range of cliffs above
the coveted object. On approaching the spot from
which we intended to commence operations, we became
aware of both the parent-birds in evident agitation,
sailing about at a level with the top of the cliff, and
we had hardly reached it, when a merry young Basque
appeared singing and swinging the young Griffon in one
hand. We added to his hilarity by giving him a small
silver coin, a cup of wine, and a handful of tobacco in
exchange for the young Vulture, which we carried back
to San Sebastian. I was bound on an expedition
through Navarra and into Aragon, and left our not very
fascinating prize in charge of the daughters of our host
of the ‘Parador Real,’ hardly expecting ever to see it
again, as these damsels, although most obliging and
attentive to their guests, could not be supposed to take
much interest in a strong-smelling and ugly carrion-
bird, belonging to a stranger. I crossed the frontier
on my return to England by another route, sending a
servant to enquire after my Vulture, and bring it on, if
alive, to meet me at Bordeaux; to my surprise and
pleasure, he found the bird in perfect health, very
much grown, and guite tame, and assured me that the
“Sefioritas ” had parted with their charge with tears
and all manner of caresses, that might well have been
bestowed on more appreciative objects. I, however,
had, and still have, good reason to be grateful for the

care bestowed upon “ Carlista,” as I called my Griffon,
for it is still alive and well at Lilford as I write,—in
February 1893. This bird, since its arrival at Lilford,
has shared a compartment with a Cinereous Vulture
taken in Spain in 1865, and for many years past has
annually assisted this bird in making a nest, in which
the latter generally has deposited two or three eggs. I
am convinced that the Griffon has no share in the pro-
duction of these eggs, in fact, Tam by no means certain
that it is not a female, but, as the end of February
approaches, it becomes quite as savage as its companion,
and only within the last few days I have been obliged
to remove a young Griffon received from Gibraltar last
summer, with whom both the Vultures just mentioned
have lived amicably hitherto. I believe, though I am
not certain of the fact, that these Vultures occasionally
carry off large bones to their haunts among the rocks,
and, letting them fall from great heights, devour the
fragments ; and I remember to have read a statement in
the ‘ Field’ some years ago to the effect that the writer
had watched some Griffons carrying on this performance
with tortoises im European Turkey, in a locality with
which I am well acquainted. If it were not for the
mention of the particular spot, and the number of birds
said to have been engaged in this manner, I should have
assumed that the writer was mistaken in his identifica-
tion, and that the tortoise-smashers were really Bearded
Vultures (Gypaétus barbatus).

.

= ex

y

“Cuurq) snieydouoied uo1ydoayy

‘AUMNLINA NYILGADA YO ‘NOYHAOAN

numjzag ‘9aerg “A *O09T

NEOPHRON, or EGYPTIAN VULTURE.

NEOPHRON PERCNOPTERUS (Linn.).

Vultur percnopterus, Linn. S. N.i. p. 123 (1766) ; Hewitson,
1 195 Wo

Cathartes perenopterus, Nawm. i. p. 170.

Neophron percnopterus, Macg. ii. p. 166; Yarr. ed. 4, i.
p- 6; Dresser, v. p. 391.

Vautor @’ Egypte, French ; Aas-Vogel, Aas-Geier, German ;
Alimoche, Rejilero, Abanto, Quebrantahuesos, Grajo
blanco, Spanish.

This repulsive but most useful bird has occurred at
least on two occasions in England: in the first instance
two were seen, and one of them shot, in Somersetshire
in October 1825; the second occurrence is recorded by
Doctor C. Bree in the ‘ Zoologist’ for 1868 as having
taken place on the 28th of September of that year, near
Peldon in Essex; all three birds seem to have been in
immature plumage. ‘The Neophron is a summer visitor
to many parts of Southern Europe, and breeds occasion-
ally, to my personal knowledge, as far to the north as
the neighbourhood of Aix les Bains in Savoy. In
Spain, especially in Andalucia, this species is exceed-
ingly common. Colonel Irby, in his ‘Ornithology of

the Straits of Gibraltar,’ states that many pass north-
wards at the end of February, but the greater number,
almost always in pairs, during March. In the imme-
diate neighbourhood of Seville I have only observed one
during the month of February, but lower down the
Gadalquivir have found these Vultures in considerable
number early in March. I have been assured that a few
Neophrons pass the winter in the plains of Andalucia,
but I cannot affirm this as a fact, and believe that the
great majority leave Spain at the approach of autumn.
In very many localities in Southern and Central Spain,
where a broken hillside from its steepness attains to the
dignity of a cliff, and presents convenient ledges or
clefts, a pair or two of the Neophron may be found
breeding. ‘The nests are composed of dead sticks, upon
which the birds pile wp a mass of every imaginable
rubbish that they can pick up about their favourite
resorts—heaps of excrement and refuse that abound in
and about almost every village. In fact, whilst the
larger Vultures are usually more or less shy of approach,
and, for the most part, satisfy their appetites upon the
remains of large animals in the open plains, the present
species is ubiquitous, and seems to be as much at home
in a village-street as when following the plough for grubs
and worms, or watching for lizards and centipedes
amongst the lofty limestone rocks of the mountain-
ranges. I have generally found the Neophron in pairs,
but a good many may occasionally be found congregated
about any large skeleton from which the more powerful
carrion-birds have removed the flesh and entrails,
attracted, as I believe, not only by the chance of

picking up any fragments of the banquet, but also by
the bectles that are in that line of business. Nothing
comes amiss to this bird in the way of food, but I think
that, although they readily devour small snakes, lizards,
frogs, scorpions, centipedes, and beetles, they prefer the
most disgusting filth and the most odoriferous decaying
garbage to living animals of any sort. On one occasion
I observed two of these birds, a White Stork, two or
three cur-dogs, a sow and her pigs, a starving cat, and
three young children apparently enjoying themselves on
a heap of what I will call “refuse,” in the main street
of a Spanish village. Iam assured that the Neophron
frequently nests in trees, but all the occupied nests that
I have seen have been in the hollows of cliffs, generally
at no very great elevation. I must, however, mention
that I am acquainted with one instance in which a pair
of Neophrons took possession of a nest of the Common
Kite, from which the original owners had been destroyed
and their eggs taken. The eggs are laid in April, but
I do not think that the young leave the nests before
July. On wing, at some distance, the Neophron pre-
sents a very remarkable appearance, giving (to me at
least) the impression of a bird flying without a head ;
but it is only when on wing that this species is not
repulsive in the highest degree. Its aspect is in keep-
ing with its habits and character—a coward and a bully
of the lowest type, and withal a perfect instrument, as
far as its capacities extend, for sanitary purposes in
countries where the human inhabitants ignore the most
obvious precautions against pestilence.

The bird from which the principal figure in my Plate

was taken is one of several that I have received at
various times from Spain; he lives in a yard with a
collection of other more or less raptorial birds, is per-
fectly tame, sometimes impudent, cleanly in plumage,
but sneaking and cowardly in disposition.

ee

“aie

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

i
3

TAWNY, BROWN, OR WOOD-OWL.

Syrnium aluco (Linn.).

TAWNY, BROWN, orn WOOD-OWL,

SYRNIUM ALUCO (Linn.).

Strix aluco, Linn. S. N.i. p. 1382 (1766) ; Nawn. i. p. 473 ;
Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 146.

Ulula aluco, Macg. iii. p. 438.

Syrnium stridula, Hewitson, i. p. 63.

Syrnium aluco, Dresser, v. p. 271.

Chat-huant, French; Wald-Kantz, Wald-Eule, German ;
Carabo, Spanish.

The Brown Owl, as it is generally termed, is still
tolerably common in the woodlands of England and
Scotland, in spite of the constant and senseless _perse-
cution that it has suffered from in many places through
the stupid want of discrimination on the part of greedy
game-preservers and their servants. I have done my
best through my life to protect and encourage Owls of
all kinds, and have been rewarded not only by the
consequent opportunities of close observation of their
most interesting habits, but also by their keeping the
numbers of mice, voles, and, in a lesser degree, of rats
within nearly tolerable limits. This Owl especially loves
the concealment of old hollow trees, and does not, to
my knowledge, often frequent old buildings, unless,
indeed, they are densely clad with ivy ; nor does it seem

particularly to affect the dense plantations of conifers
that form such favourite retreats for the Barn-Owl.
The present bird is an early breeder, the young being
often strong on the wing by the beginning of May:
the usual site of its nursery is a spacious hollow in the
trunk or large limb of an old tree, but I have known
several instances of its laying in rabbit-burrows or
amongst tree-roots above ground, and one or two of
its having taken possession of an old nest of Crow or
Wood-Pigeon. Shakespeare has rendered the hoot of
the Tawny Owl famous for all time; and though I
cannot quite agree with the bard in considering it as
a “merry note,” it is exceedingly pleasant to my ears,
and brings back memories of the happy days when Owls
were to me birds of mystery, now dispelled by years
and diligent.study of their habits, which have led me to
a full appreciation of the beauty and infinite merits of
these unpaid friends of man.

ag
=

TAWNY, BROWN, or WOOD-OWL. Grey Race.

Syrnium aluco( Zz. ).

(uyauy 7 *f) “Wwyewsusy 2BjRyAN

NOGNO7 “O!1GNLS 1H¥ OH1IT-OWOYHS IMO SWIVNONGAL

TENGMALM’S OWL.

NYCTALA TENGMALMI (J. F. Gmelin).

Strix tengmalmi, J. F. Gmelin, 8S. N. i. p. 291 (1788) ;
Naum. i. p. 500.

Ulula tengmalmi, Macy. iii. p. 445.

Noctua tengmalmi, Hewitson, i. p. 66.

Nyctala tengmalmi, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 154; Dresser, v. p. 319.

Chouette Tengmalm, French; Tengmalm’s Kautz, German.

This Owl is an accidental and uncommon straggler
to Great Britain from the forest countries of North-
eastern Europe, where it is locally abundant. Of its
habits in natural conditions of existence I can say
nothing from personal experience, and I have been
unfortunate with the few of this species that I have
attempted to keep alive in captivity. I quote from the
Ath ed. of ‘ Yarrell’ to the effect that this Owl inhabits
thick forests in Norway, Sweden, and Russia, even in
very high northern latitudes. It is well known locally
throughout the larger forests of Central Europe, occurs
occasionally in Northern Greece, has been obtained in
the Crimea, and inhabits the Alpine forests of Italy,
Switzerland, and Savoy.

Wolley announced to the Zoological Society in 1857

that this bird lays its eggs in holes of trees, or in the
nest-boxes set up by the inhabitants of Lapland for the
accommodation of Goldeneye Ducks and other hole-
breeding water-fowl. The number of eggs varies from
four to seven. I received five of this species alive from
Helsingfors in the summer of 1888. I did not notice
that their habits differed from those of other Wood-
Owls in captivity, except that they were much less active
and savage than some Hawk-Owls received in the same
consignment. They were voracious feeders and great
bathers, and seemed to be in no way inconvenienced by
bright sunlight. The chief peculiarity of these birds
was their cry, which, as mentioned by Wheelwright, is
a very musical, long-drawn whistle, quite unlike the
note of any of the numerous Owls with whom I have
the honour of personal acquaintance. Although these
little Owls seemed to bear captivity well, and did not
exhaust themselves by struggling to escape, I lost them
all within two years, and vainly tried to discover any
cause for their death.

at

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin,

LONG—-EARED OWL.

Asio otus (Linn.).

LONG-EARED OWL.

ASIO OTUS (Linn.).

Strix otus, Linn. 8. N.i. p. 182 (1766); Naum. i. p. 451.
Asio otus, Macg. ii. p. 453; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 158 ; Dresser,
v. p. 201.
Otus vulgaris, Hewitson, i. p. 55.
Hibou vulgaire, French; Ohr-Eule, German; Carabo,
Buho, Spanish.

This handsome Owl is tolerably abundant, though
extremely local, throughout the United Kingdom, but
prefers, so far as my own experience goes, thick planta-
tions of coniferous trees to any other localities. In
West Norfolk and Suffolk the Long-eared Owl would
be, if unmolested, exceedingly common; I have fre-
quently seen from ten to a dozen of these birds in the
course of a day’s shooting in those districts, but I grieve
to add that on one occasion prominently in my memory,
several members of our party, not imbued with that love
for Owls that inspires me, were guilty of the blood of
these very beautiful birds. The eggs of this species,
generally four or five in number, are usually laid early
in March in an old nest of Crow, Magpie, Wood-Pigeon,

or Jay ; the only Northamptonshire nest of Long-eared
Owl that I have examined appeared to me to consist of
the cup of the old nest of a Magpie with a broad fringe
or border of fir-twigs, apparently added by the Owls
themselves. In the north of Ireland and in Norfolk the
many nests occupied by this species that I have found
appeared to me to be those of Wood-Pigeons, but I think
that in almost every instance the Owls had added to the
original structure. I have several times come upon a
family of this species sitting close to each other in a row
on the same bough of an old Scotch fir, and apparently
as regardless of my presence at the foot of the tree as I
was delighted at the opportunity of making their ac-
quaintance under natural conditions. The attitudes and
expressions of a group of these birds when not alarmed
are inexpressibly comical.

A considerable number of Long-eared Owls cross the
North Sea to our eastern coasts annually in November
and December; JI was assured by my friend the late
Mr. G. E. Hunt that on one occasion in a large wood
not far from the coast of Suffolk, when he was sent
forward to deal with rocketting pheasants, some sixty
or seventy at least of these Owls crossed the little valley
in which he stood. This Owl does not, so far as I am
aware, frequent buildings or hollow trees, but is fond of
dense masses of ivy, and was often found in the almost
impenetrable thickets of blackthorn which are, or perhaps
I should say were, so characteristic of the forest-district
of Northamptonshire. The cry of the Long-eared Owl
at pairing-time is a prolonged and most disagreeable
scream, at other seasons the only note that I have heard

ie
uttered by this species may best be described as a short
yelp. In the island of Corfu we found this Owl tolerably
common, and generally frequenting the thickest covert
of arbutus, myrtle, and other evergreen shrubs; I once
disturbed one from a thick orange-tree. In captivity
these birds become extremely tame and are most inter-
esting pets, but do not thrive so well as several other
species of the family, although I have succeeded occa-
sionally in keeping one of them alive for three or four
years. The Long-cared Owl is generally distributed in

suitable localities throughout Europe.

‘(ijsioq) Snyokyoeiq o1sy :

IMO GHAaVA-LYOHS

€
“UILiog ‘@A9I1n “AA “OUIIT qr

SHORT-EARED OWL,

ASIO BRACHYOTUS (Forster).

Strix brachyotos, Forster, Phil. Trans. lxii. p. 384 (1772).
Strix brachyotis, Nawm. i. p. 459.

Asio brachyotus, Macg. iii. p. 461.

Otos brachyotos, Hewitson, i. p. 58.

Asio accipitrinus, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 163; Dresser, v. p. 257.

Hibou brachyote, French; Sumpf-Ohreule, kurzohrige
Lule, German; Cdrabo, Lechuza campestre, Spanish.

The Short-eared Owl is most generally known in
England as an autumnal migrant; but a few pairs still
breed in certain fens and moorlands in our country,
which, in the interest of the bird, I refrain from speci-
fying; in certain parts of Scotland and its adjacent
islands it nests pretty commonly, and is very frequently
met with in Ireland in winter. The habits of this Owl
differ from those of almost all the other species of its
family in the fact that the present bird is eminently
terrestrial, seldom alighting on trees, and preferring open
country with covert of heath, fern, or sedge. We often
meet with this Owl in turmip-fields or rough pasture-
lands in the midlands towards the end of October,
sometimes in considerable numbers, but, as a rule, singly
or in couples; in West Norfolk, at the same season, I

have more than once seen a dozen or more during a
day’s shooting.

The Short-eared Owl is a very powerful flyer, and, as
he often hunts not only by daylight, but in bright sunny
weather, it is evident that his vision is better adapted
for diurnal operations than is the case with our other
British Owls. The nest of this bird when situated on
dry heath-lands is merely a scraping of the earth, but in
the fens the eggs are often laid upon a few pieces of
broken reed-stems, with occasionally a few leaves of that
plant, or blades of broad sedge; the eggs are pure white,
and vary in number from four to six. This is one of
the most useful of birds, as its favourite prey are the
noxious voles that infest our low-lying lands.

EAGLE-OWL.

Bubo maximus, Fleming.

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

EAGLE-OWL,

BUBO MAXIMUS, Fleming.

Bubo maximus, Fleming, Brit. An. p. 57 (1828) ; Macy. iii.
p. 428; Hewitson, i. p. 50.

Strix bubo, Naum. i. p. 440.

Bubo ignavus, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 163; Dresser, v. p. 339.

Hibou Grand duc, French; Uhu, Bergeule, Grossherzog,
German; Buho grande, Buho real, Spanish.

Several instances are on record of the occurrence of
this grand bird in Great Britain, but it is very probable
that some of these may refer to “escapes” from cap-
tivity, though, indeed, many of the wilder parts of our
country are eminently well suited to the habits of the
Eagle-Owl, which is more or less common in mountainous
and forest districts throughout the continent of Europe.
In Epirus we frequently met with it during our shoot-
ing-excursions, and still more often heard its sonorous
call, which is well represented by its common German
name above given. In the sierras of Spain, too, the
present species may be called abundant, and may often
be heard on the Rock of Gibraltar, whence I once
obtained a living specimen.

The Eagle-Owl, in common with most of its family,
remains in concealment in the fissures and caves of

cliffs, or in dense foliage, during the daytime, and sallies
forth at dusk im quest of its prey, which consists of
birds, and, where they exist, hares and rabbits. In
Epirus I am convinced that, during the autumn and
winter months, these Owls fed principally upon wild-
fowl, which they seized as they were feeding on the
open marshy lands by night. This bird is a very early
brecder, usually commencing to lay early in February ;
the eggs are pure white, much rounded in shape, and
generally from two to four in number; very little nest
is made, the eggs being generally laid on a bare earthy
ledge of cliff (I am, of course, only writing of my own
experience).

The Eagle-Owl will live in confinement for a great
number of years, if not over-fed and allowed to take
a sun-bath when so inclined. We have reared several
young of this species at Lilford from eggs laid in the
aviaries, but from some hitherto unexplained cause have
not of late years met with the success in this direction
that has attended other English possessors of these Owls

in captivity.

SCOPS OWL,

SCOPS GIU (Scop.).

Strix Scops, Linn. S. N. 1. p. 132 (1766).

Strix scops, Naum. i. p. 466.

Scops aldrovandi, Macy. iii. p. 422; Hewitson, i. p. 54.
Scops giu, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 173; Dresser, v. p. 329.

Le Petit Duc, French; Zwerg-Ohreule, German; Cornea,
Spanish.

A rare visitor to our islands; abundant as a summer
migrant in many parts of Southern Europe.

,

5 Ns
y - —

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin-London,

SiG OPS OWL:

Scops gin. (Scop.)
2

ole

om Ps Bye -

yor

tne

LITTLE OWL

ATHENE NOCTUA (Scop.).

Strix noctua, Scopoli, Ann. I. Hist.-Nat. p. 22 (1769); Naum.
1. p. 493.

Syrnia psilodactyla, Macg. iii. p. 417.

Noctua nudipes, Hewitson, i. p. 67.

Carine noctua, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 178.

Athene noctua, Dresser, v. p. 357.

Chouette chevéche, French; Stein-Kautz,German; Mochuelo,

Cu-cu, Spanish.

Common in most parts of Southern and Central

Europe ; rarely visits our islands.

ID IEAP Ab Iv, 18) CO) MAES
Athene noetua (Scop.)

2

3

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin-London.

|i

|
|

; hoe

. (uun7) wodouny erudng
“TMO—-WMVH

char - soazg 2rrequygg WT FIG “Psp Uamgqaouy:

|

HAWK-OWL,

SURNIA FUNEREA (Linn.).

Strix funerea, Linn. S. N. i. p. 133 (1766).

Strix nisoria, Naum. i. p. 427.

Syrnia funerea, Macg. ii. p. 404.

Surnia funerea, Hewitson, i. p. 65; Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 183;
Dresser, v. p. 309.

Chouette caparacoch, French; Habichtseule, German.

The specimens of this bird that have occurred in the
British Islands have been few and far between. I quote
from Mr. Howard Saunders’ recently published ‘Manual’
as to dates and localities :—One off the coast of Corn-
wall, March 1830. One near Yatton, in Somersetshire,
August 1837. One on the island of Unst, Shetlands,
in the winter of 1860-61. One near Glasgow, December
1863. One near Greenock, November 1868. One near
Amesbury, Wilts, for which no precise date is given.
I find that Mr. J. E. Harting, in his ‘Handbook of
British Birds,’ published in 1872, records two other
occurrences—one at Shelf, near Bradford, without date,
and another near Greenock, in December 1871.

This Owl is an inhabitant of the pine-forests of
Northern Europe, Asia, and America, and as T know

nothing whatever of its natural habits in freedom from
personal observation, I refrain from further quotations.
I received eight of these Owls alive from Helsingfors in
July 1888, one of which is represented in accompanying
Plate. These birds are very fearless and savage, very
quarrelsome amongst themselves, always wide-awake
and ready for food, and constantly uttering a very
melancholy and unpleasant cry. The N. American race
of Hawk-Owl, which has been described as a distinct
species by some ornithologists, differs principally from
the European form in the broader and redder colour of
the transverse bars on the underparts, but, in my humble
opinion, is in no way worthy of specific separation there-
from; it appears that the majority of the Hawk-Owls
that have been captured in Great Britain belong to this

American race.

BOeIpPUrDS eajoAj|

“IMO AMONS

NOGNO “OICNLS t8y¥ OH1IT-OWOHBHS

SNOWY OWL,

NYCTEA SCANDIACA (Linn.).

Strix scandiaca, Linn. 8. N. i. p. 132 (1766).

Strix nyctea, Naum. i. p. 417.

Syrnia nyctea, Macg. iii. p. 407.

Surnia nyctea, Hewitson, i. p. 64.

Nyctea scandiaca, Yarr. ed. 4, i. p. 187; Dresser, v. p. 287.

Surnie Harfang, French; Schnee-Eule, German.

This fine Owl, whose true home is in the extreme
north of the Old and New Worlds, is an occasional
straggler to the British Islands, and fide Mr. Robert
Gray, as quoted in the 4th edition of ‘ Yarrell,’ may be
regarded as an almost regular spring visitant in the
Outer Hebrides. I have never had the good fortune to
meet with the Snowy Owl in a wild state, so that I can
add nothing to the details already published concerning
its habits and haunts in that condition, but I may
mention that it is a bird of the open country, that it
can see to hunt in the brightest sunlight as well as in
the gloom of night, that it follows the migrations of the
lemmings, and consequently is occasionally abundant in
districts where perhaps it may previously have been
barely known. Its food consists of hares and smaller

Mammalia, birds, and fishes. I have kept many of this
species in confinement, but have been singularly unfor-
tunate with them, as for some unknown reason I have
lost them all within three or four years of their arrival
at Lilford.

After the death of Mr. Edward Fountaine, of Easton,
near Norwich, whose success in rearing Owls in cap-
tivity is well known to all British ornithologists, I
purchased six of this species from his executor, and sent
the keeper of my aviaries to fetch them from Easton ;
they arrived safely at Lilford on August 29, 1889, but
the person in whose charge they had been left in
Norfolk could give my man no precise information as to
their age or sex, nor, indeed, could she positively state
which, if any, of the six birds had been bred at Easton ;
two at least were adult males. On June 4, 1890, a
pair of these Owls showed an inclination to nest by
scratching a hole in the gravel of their aviary: we
immediately removed the other birds and left this pair
in sole possession of a roomy compartment, protecting
them from outside observation by fastening garden
matting all round the wired front and one side of the
enclosure, which was further protected at the back and
other side by a high stone wall. On June 7 the female
bird was sitting, and we left her undisturbed till
July 10; during this time she was regularly fed by the
male, and, as far as we could ascertain, seldom, if ever,
left her nest; the male bird savagely attacked any one
who even opened the door to throw in food, and both
birds cried savagely at the mere sound of human foot-
steps outside their abode. On the day last named my

man succeeded, in spite of the furious onslaught of the
male, in getting his hand into the nest, and extracted
an egg containing a lively chick with its beak well
through the shell. On July 12 we found that two
young birds had been hatched out, and that four of the
five remaining eggs were “chipping.” On July 20 the
nest contained three eggs only, two of which contained
dead young birds, whilst the third was rotten ; we took
this one away, and the next day the nest was empty and
deserted, the old birds having certainly devoured the
whole of their progeny, as Artemus Ward says “on foot
and in the shell.” For many days after the final catas-
trophe the female took to perching, a habit to which she
was by no means frequently addicted before she had
laid, she now constantly uttered a mournful cry that
we had not before heard, very different from her sharp
angry bark of menace whilst she was sitting. I am
strongly of opinion that in this atrocity the male bird
was the chief, if not the sole culprit; but I regret to
say that it is now impossible to learn from any future
experience how to allot the blame with regard to him,
as both he and the only other bird of the six positively
known to be a male have died since the events above

recorded.

Litho. W. Greve, Berlin.

BARN-OWL.

Strix flammea, Linn.

BARN-OWL.

STRIX FLAMMEA, Linn.

Strix flammea, Linn. S. N. i. p. 133 (1766); Naum. i.
p. 483; Macg. ii. p. 473; Hewitson, i. p. 61; Dresser,
Vv. p. 237.
Aluco flammeus, Yarr. ed. 4, 1. p. 194.
Effraye commune, French; Schleier-Eule, German; Le-
chuza, Spanish.

This most useful of birds is more or less common
throughout the United Kingdom, and is perhaps better
known as White or Screech-Owl, than by the designa-
tion above given. I am glad to believe that the minds
of game-preservers and game-keepers are gradually
awakening to the fact that in destroying Owls in general,
and this species in particular, they are committing acts
of the most egregious folly, not only as regards the
birds which are the special objects of their care and
protection, but also from an agricultural point of view,
for these Owls not only destroy enormous numbers of
rats, mice, and voles, but also take many Sparrows and
other seed-eating birds from their nocturnal resorts ; the
stolid and unenlightened game-keeper may plead that

Owls do eat birds, and, as I have just stated, so they do,
but if he allows his young hand-reared game-birds to be
out of their coops at the time that Owls are abroad in
search of food, surely the blame for losing them attaches
justly to him and not to the tempted Owl; I need
hardly say that wild-bred game-birds, whilst small enough
to be attacked by the Barn-Owl, are carefully stowed
away under their mother’s wings at the time when the
“bird of night” is on the quest of prey. I have
examined hundreds of the pellets cast up by this species
in and under their nesting-places, and never discovered
either bones or feathers of any game-bird, the castings
consisting mainly of the fur and bones of small mam-
malia, with feathers and skulls of seed-eating birds, and
occasionally a few bones and scales of small fishes. For
many years past I have done my utmost to encourage
and protect Owls on my own property, and to urge upon
my neighbours to do the same, and I am glad to say
that at this time of writing (April 1890) I have authentic
information of no less than eleven Owls’ nests with their
full complement of eggs within a radius of three miles
from our home.

The Barn-Owl generally begins to lay early in April,
and, I think, begins to sit as soon as one or two eggs
are laid, though the full complement of eggs is seldom
less than six or seven: I am told that there are nine in
one of the nests to which I have just alluded. Young
Barn-Owls in all stages from newly-hatched down-clad
infancy to full feathering may be found in one and the
same nest at the same time, and there is good reason to
believe that the juniors are hatched out by the warmth

of their elder brethren. I have once or twice seen a
Barn-Owl flying apparently on his own account in sun-
shine, but when suddenly disturbed from their natural
shady resorts in the daytime, they generally seem to be
quite confused, and fly with a wavering and uncertain
flight into the nearest leafy tree. As a rule the Barn-
Owl sits during the hours of sunshine in a hollow tree,
a dark recess in old masonry, a dense mass of ivy, or the
gloom of conifers, and emerges from his home at dusk
to scour over the fields and about farmsteads in search
of food, but in dull winter weather these Owls may
often be seen hunting before sunset ; their flight is per-
fectly noiseless, and their quickness of vision in a dim
light quite marvellous; they quarter their ground much
in the same fashion as the Harriers, and go over the
same beat pretty regularly night after night. A young
Owl of this species that I kept as a pet in my school-
days, on one occasion, when about half-grown, swallowed
nine full-grown house-mice in rapid succession till the
tail of the ninth stuck out of his mouth, and he could do
no more, but withm three hours he was hungry again,
and was barely satisfied with four more of the little
quadrupeds ; with this appetite and capacity for stowage
the numbers of four-footed vermin supplied by a pair of
Barn-Owls to a brood of six or seven ravening youngsters
may well be imagmed: I have seen an old pair bring
food to their brood seventeen times in half an hour from
a rick-yard near their nest. A great number of these
and other Owls are massacred and sold to be made into
fire-screens and plumes for ladies’ hats, barbarities upon
which I can hardly trust myself to enlarge; the bird-

manglers who devote themselves to this branch of art,
almost invariably put glass eyes of the wrong colour into
the distorted faces of their victims, and in every way
shock all the better feelings of our human nature.
When unmolested these Barn-Owls will permit very
close observation of their ways and manners.

PART I.) [OCTOBER 1885.

COLOURED FIGURES

OF THE

BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

ISSUED BY

LORD LILFORD, F.ZS. &c.,

E PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

SS ae
a a eS

LONDON:
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, W.

1885. |

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, ] Price Qs od. [RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
‘

CONTENTS

MISTLETOE-THRUSH.

TurRDus viscivorus, Linn.

SONG-THRUSH.

TurpDus musicus, Linn.

REDWING.

Turpus rn1acus, Linn.

FIELDFARE.

Tourpvus Pizaris, Linn.

RING-OUZEL.

TurDus rorquatus, Linn.

PIED ROCK-THRUSH.

Monricoxa saxatinis (Linn.).

EAR T of,

WHEATEAR.

SAxIcoLa G@NANTHE (Linn.).

BLACK-THROATED WHEATEAR.

Saxtcona stapazina (Vieillot).

REDSTART.

+ RuriciLa PHaNicuRvs (Linn.).

BLACK REDSTART.

Ruriciiya trtys (Scop.).
WHITETHROAT, |”

Syzvia cineREA, Bechst.

BLACKCAP.

SyYLvis aTricapitya (Linn).

I observe, too late for correction, that there are several errors

in the authorities given for the specific names in the present

Part.

The above list is correct.

a EG
PART IL] [MAY 1886.

COLOURED FIGURES

OF THE

BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

ISSUED BY

LORD LILFORD, F.Z.S. &c.,

PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

LONDON:
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, W.
1886.

he ee ed

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,] Price 9s. 6d. [RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

CONTENTS

BLACK-THROATED THRUSH.

TURDUS ATRIGULARIS, Temm.

THE DESERT-CHAT.

SAXICOLA DESERTI, Temm.

WHINCHAT.

PRATINCOLA RUBETRA (Linn.).

THE STONECHAT.

PRATINCOLA RUBICOLA (Linn.).

THE LESSER WHITETHROAT.

Synvia curruca (Linn.).

GARDEN WARBLER.

Syrvia Hortensis, Bechst.

OU ee Nil a

GREAT REED-WARBLER.

ACROCEPHALUS TURDOIDES
[ (Meyer).
SAVI’S WARBLER.

ACROCEPHALUS LUSCINIOIDES
[(Savz).

SEDGE-WARBLER.

ACROCEPHALUS PHRAGMITIS
[ (Bechst.).

HOBBY.

Fatco suspureo, Linn.

(1 Plate*.)

ARCTIC BLUETHROAT.

CyanzcuLa surcica (Linn.).

WHITE-SPOTTED BLUETHROAT.

CYANECULA LEUCOCYANA, Brehm.

* The “adult male” figure will be issued in Part III.

py
PART III.|

——"G
G

[AUGUST 1886,

COLOURED FIGURES

OF THE

BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

ISSUED BY

LORD LILFORD, F.ZS. &c.,

PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

LONDON:
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, W.
1886.
RINTED a oi | Pane e ae a LION COURT.

ClO TEIN TiS Ost eabe ACh eal Tale

WHITE'S THRUSH.

Turpus varius, Pall.

ICTERINE WARBLER.

Hyrorats rcrertna (Vieillot).

REED-WARBLER.

ACROCEPHALUS STREPERUS

[ (Vieiljot).

MARSH-WARBLER.

ACROCEPHALUS PALUSTRIS

[ (Bechst.).

WOOD-WARBLER.

PHYLLOSCOPUS SIBILATRIX

[(Bechst.).

SWALLOW.

Hirvunpo rustica, Linn,

MARTIN.

CurLipon ursica (Linn.).

SAND-MARTIN,

CoriLe ripARIA (Linn.).

WHITE-BELLIED SWIFT.

CypsnLus MELBA (Linn.).

SCOPS OWL.

Scors civ (Scop.).

LITTLE OWL.

ATHENE Noctua (Scop.).

HOBBY. (Anvtt.)

Fatco sussuteo, Linn.

PART IV.] [JANUARY 1887.

COLOURED FIGURES

OF THE

BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

ISSUED BY

LORD LILFORD, F.Z.8. &c.,

PRUESIDENT OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

LONDON:
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, W.

1887.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, ] Price Qs. 61 d. [RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.

CONTENTS OF PART IV.

DARTFORD WARBLER.

MELIZOPHILUS PROVINCIALIS,

[(Gmel.).

GOLDCREST.

Reeuus cristatus (Linn.).

LONG-TAILED TITMOUSE.

AcREDULA caupaTA (Linn.).

COAL TITMOUSE. (2 Prarss.)

Parvus ater, Linn.

SPARROW-HAWK.

WREN.

TROGLODYTES PARVULUS, Koch.

TREE-CREEPER.

CERTHIA FAMILIARIS, Linn.

NUTCRACKER.

Corvus caryocatactss, Linn.

WOOD-LARK.

ALAuUDA arBorza, Linn.

(5 Prarzs.)

Accipirer nisus (Linn.).

REISE TAT NGTEGOC Lake nd amas ~ Pon
xG

PART V.| [JUNE 1887.

COLOURED FIGURES

OF THE

BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS.

ISSUED BY

LORD LILFORD, F.Z.S. &c.,

PRESIDENT OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION.

LONDON:
R. H. PORTER, 6 TENTERDEN STREET, W.

1887.

PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, ] Price 9s. 6d. [RED LION COURT FLEET STREET.

CONTENTS OF PART V.

FIRE-CREST.

REGULUS IGNICAPILLUS

[(¢. L. Brehm).

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER.

PHYLLOSCOPUS SUPERCILIOSUS

(VJ. F. Gmelin).

CHIFFCHAFF.

PHyYLLoscoPus Minor (Forst.).

WILLOW-WARBLER.

PHYLLOSCOPUS TROCHILUS

[(Linn.).

HEDGE-SPARROW.

AccENTOR MopuLaris (Linn.).

RED-BACKED SHRIKE.

Lantus cotturio, Linn.

CORN-BUNTING.

Emprriza Mitiaria, Linn.

ORTOLAN BUNTING.

EMBDRIZA HORTULANA, Linn.

LITTLE BUNTING.

Emperiza Pusitia, Pall.

REED-BUNTING.

Emprriza scua@nicius, Linn.

SWIFT.

Cyrsetus apus (Linn.).

SPARROW-HAWK.

AcciritER nisus (Linn.).

(Apu ¢.)

D