158 LORD LILFORD 



great outward move of Scoters certainly is on 

 our east coasts. I hear of 9 or 10 woodcocks 

 seen in one of the Drayton coverts. Stark ! has 

 just sent me another batch of Spanish bird notes, 

 containing certain things quite new to me and 

 highly interesting. Cosgrave tells me that the 

 Shag which has been at Lilford for more than 

 four years has during the last week for the first 

 time assumed a crest. Surely this is an extra- 

 ordinary time of year for this adornment. . . . 

 I believe that the Purple Heron whose capture 

 was announced in the last issue of the Field was 

 that which I turned out at Lilford in July.' 



To F. D. Drewitt. 



1 Bournemouth : January 20, 1889. 



' . . . We have had four lovely bright days 

 here, Starlings reappearing in force after a long 

 absence, Blackbirds in full song, Song Thrushes 

 piping up, and Coal Tits very busy and vociferous. 

 We hope that you may be able and willing to 

 run down to us here for a Sunday whenever it 

 may suit you to do so. . . . Can you get for 



1 Dr. Stark's sudden death at Ladysmith, and his pathetic 

 request, ' Take care of my cat,' are fresh in everyone's memory. 



