THE ZooLocist—Juty, 1872. 3135 
February 25. A sparrowhawk’s nest found containing two 
freshly-laid eggs. 
March 6. Some Guinea-fowls attacked a cat, which they 
observed on the opposite side of a paddock where they were 
feeding, and drove her completely away. On the same day field- 
fares were last seen. 
March 16. Some small birds were observed mobbing a missel 
thrush; the latter was carrying something in its bill, apparently a 
large worm. 
March 3]. About 11 p.m. a female chaffinch flew against the 
window of a bed-room in which a candie was burning, and when 
the window was opened came into the room. 
April 1. Stonechat first seen. This species appears to leave 
this neighbourhood in winter, though in some parts of England it 
is, I believe, considered to be resident throughout the year. 
April 6. Cuckoo first heard; heard the second time on the 
14th. 
April 7. Blackcap first heard. 
April1l. Greater whitethroat and chimney swallow first seen. 
April 14. Willow wren first heard. This species appears less 
plentiful than usual this spring in the neighbourhood of Torquay. 
April 23. House martin first seen. 
April 30. Swift first seen. 
May 4. A male and female bullfinch were picked up in my 
garden, where they were lying about fifteen feet apart, alive and 
apparently uninjured, except that they seemed unable to fly or to 
make any effort to escape. They were brought to me, and the 
female died in my hand,—I suspect from my having held her rather 
too tightly. The male seemed unhurt when put into a cage, but 
died the following morning. No injury could be found in either 
bird when they were subsequently skinned, and I am quite unable 
to account for the condition in which they were found. 
May 9. I saw several whimbrels, which had been shot on the 
Exe during the preceding evening. 
May 25. A hen sky lark belonging to Mr. Shopland, of Tor- 
quay, which had been alone in a cage for about a year, laid an 
egg of the normal size and shape, but unusually dark at the thicker 
end. She had been observed attempting to form a nest with blades 
of grass pulled from the turf with which she was supplied, and 
being furnished with a few stalks of hay in addition, formed a rude 
