A HISTORY OF RUTLAND 98. Rough-legged Buzzard. Archibuteo lagopus (J. F. Gmelin). One was shot on the north-east border of Rutland in 1854. No doubt it has occurred occasionally without being recorded. 99. White-tailed Eagle. Hallaetus alhtctlla (Linn.). One was seen 3 February 1 89 1 and the two following days at the Exton Ponds. A second was seen in 1900 near Empingham and shot at, but not killed. 100. Goshawk. Astur palumbarius {L, n.). A male was shot near Barrowden in 1856 and is now in Dr. W. Bell's collection. A second was seen in the same locality in the same year. A dead one was picked up some years ago near Stamford, on the Rutland side of the border. loi. Sparrow- Hawk. Acciplter nisus (L'mn.). Still maintains a somewhat precarious exis- tence, perhaps being reinforced by migrants from elsewhere. A nest or two can generally be found near Uppingham every year. 102. Kite. Mihus ictinus, Savigny. Locally, Glede. At the beginning of the last century kites were abundant in Rutland. It was no un- common thing to see twent)^ or thirty in the valley of the Eye. This splendid bird dis- appeared as a resident about 1835—40. The eggs from the last two nests taken are in the collection of Dr. W. Bell and in the Upping- ham School Museum. The last kite seen in the county was observed by Mr. Theodore Bell near Beaumont Chase in 1852. 103. Honey-Buzzard. Pernls aplvorus (Linn.). A light-coloured specimen, now in Lord Gainsborough's possession, was shot in Exton Park about 1859. In May 1905 C. Masters, the keeper at Burley Ponds, wounded and captured a bird of this species. Its mate came to its assistance, while confined in a pheasant pen, and it contrived to make its escape. This pair possibly bred in the neigh- bourhood. 104. Peregrine Falcon. Fulco peregrinus, Tunstall. A regular winter visitant, seen in all parts of the county, but more especially in the Welland valley, along which it follows the autumn wild-fowl, and in the Normanton district, where it is attracted by the flocks of wood-pigeons. On one occasion a fine fs.lcon of this species stooped twice at a gaggle of white-fronted geese flying over the Welland, and, though it struck a goose, it failed to bring it down. This was in 1888, near Turtle Bridge, Barrowden. 105. Hobby. Falco subbuteo, Linn. A yearly summer migrant, usually breeding at Burley and Exton. The late Lord Lilford had three young birds sent him on 22 July 1889 from an old carrion-crow's nest at Burley. It has been known to nest also at BarnsJale, Pickworth, Casterton, and Greet- ham, and has been observed also at Wardley, Ayston, and Empingham. On one occasion it was seen at Burley Ponds to dive for fish and bring up what looked liked a roach of half a pound. 1 06. Merlin. Falco aesalon, Tunstall. Localls, Blue Hawk. A winter visitor from October to April, and to be seen every year. It has been reported from Edith Weston, Tinwell, Wardley, Caldecott, Burley, Casterton, Pickworth, Exton, Hambleton, Greetham, and Empingham. At the last-named place it was seen even in May (1902). 107. Kestrel. Falco tinnunculus, Linn. Locally, Windhover. As it is easy to shoot, this species suffers much at the hands of gamekeepers. Com- paratively few are to be seen in December and January, but during the greater part of the year they are plentiful throughout Rutland. 108. Osprey. Pandion haliaitm (Linn.). An occasional visitor to the Burley and Exton Ponds on its spring passage. One came on the same day and even almost at the same hour to the Burley Ponds from 1878 to 1883, staying thirty hours on each occasion. Again in 1894 and 1898 one was seen at Exton. There is a specimen preserved at Burley House, which no doubt was shot at the Ponds. 109. Cormorant. Phalacrocorax carbo (Linn.). About 1896 two or three were seen on the Burley Ponds. One was shot and is now at Burley House. The Shag (P. graculus) has not been recorded. no. Gannet or Solan Goose. Sula bassana (Linn.). About 1870 a young bird was picked up at Edith Weston. In 1878 or 1879 a second was obtained at Empingham. A 68
