258 * THE NATURALIST. 



end of my gun, and I killed it. At that moment a Marsh harrier, which 

 apparently had been watching it within a few feet, flew out and I had not 

 a second barrel. It did not pick up the game but kept for some days 

 about the place. But though I took much pains I never got a second 

 oj^portunity. 



Sparrowhawk. — A labourer named George Peart, at Tetney, told me 

 in 1839 that about three years before he had seen in the lane in Coven- 

 ham, when walking to Louth, a " sparrowhawk " (I suspect it must have 

 been a kestrel) pick up a weasel and mount nearly out of sight. Presently 

 they came down together in the field near and he went up to them ; the 

 hawk was dead and he brought it home, the weasel ran away. Mr. Tay- 

 lor, also of Tetney, told me that in 1844, when he was riding in Holton, 

 (near Swinhope,) he saw a similar occurrence, only that in that case the 

 weasel dragged the hawk into the hedge. 



Shorteared Owl. — Frequents the marsh in North Cotes, near Tet- 

 ney ; I have known five killed there, two of which I shot myself and might 

 have shot many more. But once when snipe shooting one rose close to 

 my feet, and as I did not shoot at it seemed quite unconcerned, and 

 presently another joined it, and they gave me an hour's exquisite pleasure 

 in watching their fine evolutions, and their contemptuous treatment of two 

 carrion crows that endeavoured to mob one of them, until one of the crows 

 nearly paid for his temerity with his life. The crows then left them in 

 undisturbed possession of the sky, and afterwards I could never have 

 injured a shorteared owl. Their flight, I think, is finer and more self-confi- 

 dent than that of any the Falconidse of their size ; and daylight is no more 

 inconvenience to them than to a hawk. 



Eagle Owl. — One was taken alive in Norfolk, in 1853, and brought 

 to my brother-in-law, the Rev. J. Bramhall. It was purchased by the 

 Rev. C. W. Bagot, of Castle Rising, where I saw it dining on a rook. 



Great Shrike. — Common at times near both Tetney and Alford. 

 There was a hedge between Tetney and Thoresby where I often saw them in 

 the spring. The Rev. J. Allott, of Maltby, has three stufi'ed, which he killed 

 there. 



Redbacked Shrike. — Also found at Tetney and near Alford. I 

 have seen them in the former place ; and a nest was taken here last year, 

 of which Mr. W. Mason, of Rigsby, has the eggs. Common in Surrey. A 

 pair used to build in my father's premises, at Egham, and as a boy I have 

 shot many on Co op en Hill. 



