A Lincolnshire Mud=flat 181 



fa\()iirite food, tlie vole, these Owls have not only arrived 

 in unusual numhcrs, but have remained and bred all over 

 the district affected, laying from eight to thirteen eggs 

 (though I'rof Xewton. in his edition of * ^'arrel^s British 

 Hirds,' mentions seven as an unusual mnnber), and rearing 

 more than one brood. The shepherd on Crooked Stone 

 counted fourteen nests on his ground. The small wood 

 behind the farmsteading of Howpasley presented a remark- 

 able appearance, the ground being densely covered with 

 the ' pellets " or ' castings ' of Owls, being composed of the 

 fur and bones of voles." 



Some years bring a remarkable invasion of Golden- 

 crested A\^rens. and with them generally may be found a 

 specimen or two of the rarer Fire-crest. On these occasions 

 the hedges and bushes in the neighbourhood are thickly 

 covered with tiny wanderers, sometimes too fatigued with 

 their journey to proceed until refreshed by rest. Snow- 

 buntings also come over more or less regidarly, if not in 

 such large numbers. 



Occasionally there will be a sudden invasion of some 

 unusual species in great numbers to the eastern shores of 

 England. The winter of 1893-4 will be remembered for the 

 numbers of Lapland Huntings, which before the preA ious year 

 had only been known as very occasional stragglers. In 1888 

 there was the extraordinary passage of Pallas's Sand-grouse, 

 not only to the eastern counties, but all ()\er England and 

 Scotland, and the whole of Europe. In 181)2 large numbers 

 of Ruddv Sheldrakes invaded Britain ; and early in 1895, 



