Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/275

Rh miles of Plymouth. A short time since I remarked two immature Herring Gulls pecking at and apparently feeding on some decayed cabbage-leaves which had been left on a mudbank by the receding tide — a habit I had never before witnessed in any of the Gull tribe.

Early in May I visited the breeding haunts of the Herring Gulls at Rhame Head, on the coast of Cornwall, a few miles from Plymouth, and found a great many birds sitting, but could see no young. Several Ravens and Kestrels were flung about the locality. A friend told me that some time since he shot a gull, in the gizzard of which he found a large whiting-hook firmly fixed, but, judging from the condition of the bird, it did not appear to have suffered any ill effects.

— At page 202, Mr. Henry Reeks has expressed the opinion that hunting the wild cat was never considered royal sport, for otherwise it would have been noticed by Shakespeare. In this I venture to think he is mistaken, for in many old royal grants which I have met with, giving license to enclose and liberty to hunt, the wild cat is particularly mentioned and included amongst the beasts of chase. William Beriwere, who was a great favourite with King John in consequence of his knowledge in the art and mysteries of venery, received a license from that monarch to enclose his woods at Joare, Cadelegh, Racldon, Ailesberie and Burgh Walter, with free liberty to hunt the hare, fox, cat, and wolf throughout all Devon- shire. 1 - From a charter of liberties granted by the same King, when Earl of Morton, to the inhabitants of Devonshire, it appears that the wild cat was at that time included amongst the " beasts of venery" in that county. The original deed, which is still preserved in the custody of the Dean and Chapter of Exeter, is under seal, and provides inter alia as follows : — " Quod habeant canes suos et alias libertates, sicut melius et liberius illas habuerunt tempore ejuset. Henrici regis et reisellos suos, et quod capiant capreolum, vulpem, cattum, lupum, leporem, lutram, ubicunque ilia invenirent extra regardum forest® meae."t In 1286 one carucate of land in the county of Huntingdon was held by the serjeanty of hunting the wolf, fox and wild cat, and driving away all vermin out of the forest of the King in that county. J

Dugdale's ' Baronage,' vol. i., p. 701.

"Ex Autographo penes Dec. et Capit. Exon." From Bp. Lyttelton's Collections. Quoted by Pennant, ' British Zoology,' vol. ii., p. 308 (1812).

Plac. Coron. 14 Edw. I., Rot. 7, dorso; Blount, 'Ancient Tenures,' p. 230.