Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/412

378 are colonies of the two former species in suitable places all round the island, but in numbers the Herring-Gulls are superior, though to no very great extent. At the time of my visit the birds had just commenced laying. The Greater Black-backed Gull is much rarer, and I never saw more than four or five together. There are probably not more than six or seven pairs of these fine birds on Lundy, where, I am told, they usually select one of the rocky islets on which to place their nests.

I frequently saw one or two Common Buzzards (Buteo vulgaris), but could not be sure that there were more than one pair on the island. From the behaviour of the birds, I was convinced that there was a nest on the face of a certain cliff, though I was unable to locate it exactly. This species is happily still fairly common in North Devon, and early in April last year I saw no fewer than eleven during a day's ramble along the cliffs. On more than one occasion three could be seen on the wing at the same time.

But to return to Lundy. I noticed that Kestrels were fairly common, and I discovered the eyrie of a pair of Peregrines (Falco peregrinus) by accidentally startling the Falcon from the face of a steep cliff. She was quickly joined by her mate, and the two birds circled above my head, keeping up a continuous chattering cry as long as I remained in the neighbourhood of their stronghold. Another pair had, I think, established themselves at the opposite end of the island near the Shutter Rock. This Falcon may often be seen on the Devon coast opposite Lundy, and a pair can frequently be observed on Baggy Point.

A pair or two of Ravens (Corvus corax) are said to nest on Lundy, but by the time of my visit (early in May) they would probably have taken off their young, and I only noticed a single bird. This bird still nests on many of the bold rocky headlands of the North Devon coast.

Some years ago, it is said, a feud broke out between the Peregrines and Ravens on Lundy, and one of the aerial conflicts which were continually taking place ended in disaster to one of the Ravens, which, failing to elude the Falcon's fatal "stoop," was struck down into the sea and drowned. I have noticed that wherever these two species nest in close proximity, duels in mid-