194 BIRDS SHOT BY THE REV. FRANCIS GISBORNE 



30th. I Rk., I Starlg. 



May 2nd. i Lapwg., I Car Crow. 



1 2th. I Car. Crow at Derby. '3'' 



23rd. I Stare, I Swallow. 



26th. I Rk. 



July 23rd. I Car Crow. 



24th. I Crow, I Rk. 



2Sth. I Crow, I Jack D., i Rk. 



30th. I Swift. 



Aug. 5. I Crow. 



14. I Sparr. 



15. 4 Sparrs. 

 17. 3 Sparrs. 

 19. 4 Sparrs. 

 20tli. I Sparr. 



22nd. 10 Sparrs., i Red-backed Butcher Bird- '"'' 



24th, 34 Sparrs. 



26. 15 Sparrs. 



27. 9 Sparrs., i Hedge Sparr., i Chub, i Stoat- HO 



28. 5 Sparrs., i Wryneck. 

 31st. I Heron, 2 Sparr. 



Sept. 1st. 3 Pars., I Lapwg. 



2n(l. I Par. and J with Genl. G. '^-' 



14. 2 Sparrs., also 2 do. before. 



39' At Derby. — The diarist had several relations there. Tradition says that he 

 not unfrequently walked thither on foot the whole way ; and further, that on 

 one occasion, starting forth with the intention of visiting the County Town, he 

 bade his coachman to mount a horse and follow him at his leisure. So 

 literally was the injunction fulfilled, so goes the story, that the good old 

 Rector arrived at his destination before the domestic and the steed. 



I40) J Red-backed Butcher Bird {Laniiis CoUurio). — This is the smaller 

 variety, and very common in some parts of England. Its name is derived 

 from its custom of impaling insects, and occasionally small birds, upon the 

 sharp spikes of the blackthorn. 



('t^' Stoat, Gfc. (Mustela Erininea). — Observe the variety of the bag — fish, 

 flesh, and fowl. A few weeks ago I cut the following out of a local paper: — 

 " The other day a singular scene was witnessed iti Tideswell Churcliyard, when 

 a cat and a stoat were seen to have a fierce fight. The cat had, hoiveiier, the best 

 of the battle, and the piercing noises made by the combatants attracted a member of 

 people to the spot. The stoat was ultimately killed.'" The exceptionally cold 

 winter of 1890 caused the fur of many of these animals to turn while in this 

 county. 



(■»=• Gent. G. — Major-General James Gisborne, the elder brother of the Rector, 

 a gallant soldier, who held a high position in his day. He was M.P. for the 

 Borough of Lismore, Co. Waterford, in the Irish House of Commons, and 

 Governor of Charlemont. On reference to old army lists, I find the following 

 information concerning him : — In 1763 he was Colonel of the 2nd New Irish 

 Regiment. In 1765 he was Colonel of the 121st Foot. In 1769, he was 



