The Zoologist— February, 1869. 1559 



in these days is a rare bird in Suffolk or Esses, and it is a fatal change of habit for the 

 erne wlien it takes to hunting rabbits instead of fishing in the sea. Thornham and 

 Ahesford are about forty miles apart, " as the eagle flies." — C. R. Bree ; Colchester, 

 December 29, 1868.— From the ' Field.' 



Osprey at Epivorth. — A beautiful speeimen of the osprey was brought to me, on 

 Saturday, December 5, 1S68, for preservation ; it had been shot the day before ou our 

 marsh, near the Trent: it was assailed by a number of crows, and fell a victim to 

 another enemy whilst combating courageously with its foes. It is a fine old male in 

 adult plumage. This is the second specimen I have had during the last five years ; 

 the first was shot on the banks of the River Trent, in the act of devouring a large fish. 

 — /. F. Gravil, jun. ; Epworlh, January 6, 1869. 



Peregrine Falcon at Epworlh. — The peregrines have again made their appearance 

 on our marsh ; they generally do so in January, and stay with us about a month — 

 that is, when they are fortunate enough to escape the gamekeeper's traps aud guns, to 

 which, I am sorry to say, a great number of them fall victims. The large quantity of 

 water-fowl to be found on our low and marsh-lands accounts for these noble birds being 

 found here. In the latter part of January, 1868, a pair of peregrines in the flesh were 

 brought to me by the gamekeepers, who told me they had trapped them in consequence 

 of their having made such havoc among tiie ducks, &c. — Id. 



Peregrine Falcon in Sussex. — A fine male was shot near Rottingdean early in the 

 morning of the 9th of November, by Mr. G. R. Guthrie, making the fifth obtained by 

 that gentleman : on the evening of the same day, at dusk, a female was shot by Mr. 

 Bates, who shot a merliu the same day : the former gentleman shot a longtailed duck 

 on the lllh and a green sandpiper on the 13lh. — T. W, Wonfor ; Hon. Sec. Brighton 

 and Sussex Nat. Hist. Society. 



Merlin near Epworlh. — Two of tliese beautiful birds, the smallest of our British 

 falcons, which were recently brought to me, in the flesh, proved on dissection to be 

 adult males. The merlin is a very scarce bird in this part of Lincolnshire. — 

 /. F. Gravil. 



The Sparrowhawk.^A.Q instance of the boldness of the sparrowhawk when in pur- 

 suit of its prey, occurred at my house about four o'clock yesterday. A crash of broken 

 glass was heard in the kitchen, and on a servant going to ascertain the cause, the hawk 

 was found fluttering in the window, and was secured without resistance. It had dashed 

 in through one of the panes, making a round hole five or six inches in diameter. A 

 cage containing a canary was standing on a table close to the window, and this had 

 evidently tempted the hawk. When first caught it seemed rather stunned, but soon 

 recovered, and was able to fly away, apparently no worse for the adventure. I take 

 this opportunity to mention that my observations regarding the nidification of this 

 bird, lead me to difi"er in opinion from many people, who allege that it seldom builds 

 its oiun nest. Several have come under my notice during the last few years, and in each 

 case the nest has certainly been newly built by the hawk itself. — James Murton ; 

 Silverdale, West Lancaster, January 16, 1869. 



Common Buzzard at Boughlon, near Faversham. — A speciAien of the common 

 buzzard was shot at Boughton about the 28th of December. — A. Skinner; West 

 Street, Faversham, January 18, 1868. 



Rovghlegged Buzzard near Faversham. — A specimen of this bird was taken, by a 

 keeper, in the summer, from a trap baited with a partridge. — Id. 



