The birds of Shetland : with observations on their habits, migration, and occasional appearance / by Henry L. Saxby ; edited by Stephen H. Saxby.

  • Saxby Henry L. (Henry Linckmyer), 1836-1873.
Date:
1874
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The birds of Shetland : with observations on their habits, migration, and occasional appearance / by Henry L. Saxby ; edited by Stephen H. Saxby. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    falconiim;. year previously, and in tlie autumn of tbe same year was barely able to recognise tlie remains of one among tbe drift upon tbe sands at Norwick. I bave only bad one otber in my bands. It was sbot at Burravoe, in tbe island of Yell, in Marcb 1868, wbile sitting upon a wall devouring a tame pigeon. Altbougb unable to procure it, I took down a careful description of it under tbe name of Fdlco Ghjrfalco. Tbe bird is so well described and so accurately represented in tbe new edition of Tarrell's Britisb Birds, now in course of issue, tbat it M^ould be use- less bere to introduce extracts from my own notes made at tbe time. THE PEEEGEINE FALCON. Falco Peregrinus. GOSHAWK—STOCK HAWK.* With the exception of tbe Eaven and tbe Hooded Crow, there is perhaps no bird so universally detested by tbe Sbet- landers as the Peregrine Falcon. This is not so much on ac- count of the mischief it does, which after all is not very great in the course of the year, as of tbe nature of that mischief, no pet bird or small animal being safe while tbe Peregrine is on tbe look-out for a meal. To this may be added the vexation caused by its impudence in snatching its victim from before. their very face, as if mocking their inability to check its career, for very few Sbetlanders would think of attempting to shoot any bird without resting the gun. Fortunately, however, the nest is so inaccessible, the bird is so wary, and its movements are so rapid and uncertain, that many pairs still remain to breed in these islands. Indeed, within tbe last few years tbe number has increased rather than othei'wise, although previously * Several birds have with us this appellation stock') prefixed to their names, and these are generally the largest and most remarkable of their kind, as the Stock Owl, the Stock Whaap, &c. We think the term is derived from the Islandic 'Stakr,' meaning distinguished, rare, or remarkable.—(fiaiX-ic mul Heddle, Nat. IlisL Orkney. Part 1. ]i. 76).