G8 CORRESPONDENCE. 



Ornithological Notes. — I do not think the birds suffer so much 

 when there is no snow on the ground, even if it be hard with frost. I 

 have noticed the Starlings busily beating over the frozen fields, and a 

 flock or perhaps a score of Redwings on the ground, apparently finding 

 Some thing worth picking up. During the very cold weather the small 

 birds evidently resort to the places where they find most warmth and 

 shelter. At Stoke most of our tree trunks are covered with ivy, and we 

 jstill have abundance of Blackbirds and others. In the town a Song 

 Thrush comes to breakfast on the crumbs with the Sparrows, but we 

 hear little of its song at present. The small birds seem to have deserted 

 tae hedge-rows during tne cold, but in a sheltered lane where the 

 banks are well covered by a growth of luxuriant fern and bramble, I 

 noticed a few days ago hundreds of Finches and Linnets, which had 

 < iddently flocked there for shelter. During the frost a pair of the 

 Common Gulls (Kittiwakes) were seen for a few days on Swanswell Pool. 

 Two have since been shot in the neighbourhood (perhaps the same) and 

 are now at David Smith's. David has also received a number of speci- 

 iriens of the common Buzzard, varying greatly in plumage from dark 

 bibwn to mottled white. There is also the little Scops Owl, and some 

 buiier interesting birds, shot by Mr. Browett, in France, where they are 

 h.ow less rare than in this country. — J. Gulson, Coventry, February 4th. 



Ornithological Notes. — The winter in Leicestershire has not been 

 prolific in natural history observations, many of our usual visitors being 

 conspicuous by their absence. Thus, Fieldfares and Redwings have been 

 v?ry scarce, especially the former. The only approach to a flock of this 

 soecies that I have seen was on the 4th January, when I saw about a 

 hundred together. I have not seen or heard of any hawhnches this 

 winter. On November 18th, two Common Scoters were shot at Thornton 

 fieservoir. On November 5th, an Eagle was siiot at Coleorton Hall. 

 This was duly chronicled in the local newspapers, and in the Fii'ld as a 

 Golden Eagle. By the kind permission of Sir Gen. Beaumont, I was 

 fchle to obtain a sight of the bird whilst in the hands of Mr. White, of 

 Castle Donington, who had it to set up. It turned out to be a young 

 specimen of the White-tailed Eagle, Haliaeius albicilla. On December 

 lb, a ilock of iive Wild Geese were seen, iica,r to Xibworth, and two were 

 feliot. They were the White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons. January 3rd, 

 - K' :ti wake was shot at Gumley ; another was shot near the town of 

 Ti^icester in the same month. In the last number of the " Midland 

 Naturalist" I observe that one of your correspondents records a " King- 

 Usher shot," and he adds "seldom seen now." These lovely birds may 

 well be seldom seen if they are shot down in w antonness. Many a time 

 1 could have shot them, but it gives me far more pleasure to note their 

 rainbow hues as they skim over the pool, or flash along the brook, than it 

 would to add them to my bag, or to see them, as is too often the case, 

 adorning a lady's hat. Let me plead with your correspondent for the 

 lives of these beautiful birds. — Thomas Macaulay, M.R.C.S.L., Kibworth. 



Ornithological Notes. — There has been a great scarcity of winter 

 migrants this season — hardly any Fieldfares, Redwing rather more 

 numerous, Widgeon very scarce — I did not hear of any till the 21th ult., 

 wuen uhout twenty-five wore seen ; last season they were much more 

 plentiful. About the first week in December some Wild Geese flew over 

 the village, but I have heard of none settling ; perhaps the floods which 

 have lately risen very much will attract some. On January 13th I put 

 nr> rive Teal off the Cherwell, and on the 12th inst. four more. On that 

 day 1 saw a rather fine sight— from an ornithological point of view — 

 four Herons, about five and twenty Wild Ducks, and a small flock of 

 Peewits rose all at once from a small meadow partly covered with water. 



