Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/137

Rh Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus. Common throughout the year, and breeds in the county. We have seen a kestrel, taken from the nest in the spring of 1844, which is entirely destitute of the pigment of the choroid coat at the back of one eye. The eye is blind and perfectly transparent, in that respect differing from the eye of an albino, in which the pigment being present, though colourless, is available for sight. In the specimen alluded to, the other eye is perfect.

Goshawk, Astur palumbarius. The goshawk is an occasional visi- tant in Norfolk, one or two examples being generally obtained every year. These chiefly occur in early spring and autumn, and are for the most part in immature plumage.

Sparrow-hawk, Accipiter nisus. The sparrow-hawk is common and breeds in Norfolk, but is a rather less numerous species than the kestrel.

Kite, Milvus vulgaris. The kite is a rare bird in Norfolk, and very irregular in its visits. It has, however, been occasionally known to breed with us, and we believe that it regularly does so in the neigh- bouring county of Huntingdon.

Common Buzzard, Buteo vulgaris. A regular autumnal migrant to this district, but not in large numbers. It is probable that a few pair breed in the county, but no instance of their doing so has come imder our observation.

A Buzzard which was lately taken near Cromer, was so closely pur- sued by two young sparrow-hawks, that the latter were both killed by a discharge from the second barrel of the same gun with which the buzzard had just previously been shot.

Rough-legged Buzzard, Buteo lagopus. The immature birds of this species visit us in autumn, but vary exceedingly in their numbers ; being very plentiful in some years, and in others so scarce as to be hardly obtainable. The adult bird has occurred, but is always ex- tremely rare.

The rough-legged buzzard is destructive to partridges, and also to rabbits, and we know an instance of a stoat having been found in the stomach of one which was shot near Lynn.

The last instance of the occurrence of this bird on the eastern coast in large numbers, was in the winter of 1839-40 ; at which period they were so numerous that during the three months of November, Decem- ber, and January, no less than forty-seven specimens were ascertained to have been taken within eight miles of the town of Thetford, besides many others which were procured elsewhere.

Honey Buzzard, Pernis apivorus. Occasionally appears in Norfolk