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 A HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE 1 06. Kite. Milvus ictinus, Savigny. We can only write of this species as a bird of the past, so far as Berks is concerned, though no doubt it was once resident and bred regu- larly in our woodlands. Even during the first quarter of the last century it was fast becoming rare, as Dr. Lamb says : ' Between thirty and forty years ago (that is, between 1774-84) very frequent about Reading, now (about 1814) very rare ' (' Ornith. Bercheria '). Mr. Hewett, in his book on the ' Hundred of Compton,' says the kite was ' often seen on the Ilsley Down.' One was shot about 1855 at Abingdon and passed into the collection of the Rev. Murray A. Matthew, who was told by the old bird- stuffer, Osman of Oxford, that when he was a young man the kite was quite common in Berks. The late Rev. H. A. Macpherson informed me (in lit.) that about 1875 the head keeper at Radley shot a fine example, which he sold to a member of Brasenose College for half a sovereign. 107. Honey-Buzzard. Pernis apivorus (Linn.). A summer visitor, and now rare, though probably it once bred in our beech woods, as it certainly did just over the boundary at Bix in Oxon (Zeal. 1844). A female was killed near Reading in June, 1 793, and another in Windsor Forest, 1860. Clark Kennedy (Birds of Berks and Bucks, p. 165) mentions one in Montagu's collection, since placed in the British Museum ; but I have failed to find it there. [Iceland Falcon. Falco islandus, Gmelin. One was reported in the Reading Mercury, but it proved to be an escaped bird.] 108. Peregrine Falcon. Falcoperegrinus,Tin- stall. This is a not uncommon visitor, generally in spring or autumn, and hardly a year passes that one or more are not noticed. A few well-identified examples are as follows : April, 1866, a male killed near Hungerford ; another near Newbury, January 24, 1867 a young bird ; one killed at Wyfield farm, December 14, 1867, and another seen October 28, 1870 (Herbert, Newbury Field Club, 1870-1, p. 95); a mature male shot at Park Place, 1875, and in my possession ; one shot at Burghclere in 1880 (Palmer, < Birds of Newbury and Dis- trict'); another killed at Pangbourne in 1882 passed through the hands of Mr. Hambling, taxidermist, of Reading ; one killed at Bil- lingbear in the winter of 1889-90 (Phillips in lit.); an adult male from Bagley Wood in December, 1890 (Fauna and Flora of Radley and District, p. n) ; one on Decem- ber 21, 1896, at Compton Downs, and an- other on April 6, 1 897 (A. Topp in lit.). Mr. Cornish of Lockinge informs me in a letter that it is occasionally seen on the downs on migration, and that one was killed at Lockinge a few years back. Mr. Newton of Crowmarsh informs me it is fairly common near Wallingford, and he has often seen it in autumn and winter. An adult female was shot on November 2, 1901, at Aston Upthorpe (Bradshaw in lit.), and another bird seen at the same time. 109. Hobby. Falco sutbuteo, Linn. Locally, Rip-hook. This very long-winged and perfectly harm- less falcon is a summer migrant, and in such numbers that I feel sure it only requires pro- tection to become almost numerous. This unfortunately it does not obtain, and year after year hobbies are destroyed, either through ig- norance of their harmless nature or in mistake for sparrow-hawks. I well remember the late J. Gould discovering a bird of the year nailed to the ' keeper's tree ' at Park Place in the ' seventies ' ; he also mentioned a nest taken at Billingbear. There is strong evidence that it has bred near Reading, and a pair shot at Aldermaston, July 23, 1897, are in the posses- sion of Mr. Keyser. Mr. Wallis tells me he has seen it at Finchampstead and also near Wokingham. A pair were shot near Cumnor and their nest taken (Zaol. 1883, p. 32). Mr. Dewe writes to inform me that one was trapped nearFaringdon in May, 1901, and another seen. A pair nested at Pusey in 1901 ; both birds were shot and preserved by Mr. Darby of Oxford, together with one of the young. Mr. Proger kindly tells me of another nest this year (1902) which was successfully protected and the eggs hatched off, but it is not advisable to mention the exact locality. Mr. Topp, taxi- dermist, of Reading, informs me that one was killed at Goring Heath, September 21, 1901. Mr. Newton says he sees them most years near Wallingford. Dr. Palmer mentions that the eggs were taken by Mr. E. Plenty at Burgh- clere in 1883 ('Birds of Newbury and Dis- trict '). The fact that a local name is given to this bird proves that it is well known to the natives. Mr. H. M. Wallis informs me that it is a contraction of the word ' reap ' hook, and the origin of it (as given him by the user) is that the peculiar curve of the reap- hook blade is like the curve of the hobby's wings in flight. no. Merlin. Falco tssalon, Tunstall. This smallest of European falcons is a some- what scarce visitor. One was killed in Wind- sor Great Park in March, 1867 (Birds of Berks 154