3686 The Zoologist — September, 1873. 



so close to my face that I distinctly saw either a young rook or 

 some other bird in his claw. A day or two later I found the 

 remains of a nestling rook under the owl's quarters, and in such a 

 position that it could not have fallen from any nest; later I took 

 pan of the skull and beak of a nestling from the castings, wrapped 

 up in a lot of mice fur and bones. The first pair of owlets did not 

 leave the nest, not even to perch in the tree, till fully fledged, on 

 the 1st of June : at this time there was a second pair hatched off 

 in the hole. I conclude the first pair must have materially 

 assisted in incubation, as I can scarcely think their den could have 

 held three full-sized owls. The first pair certainly did not leave 

 the nest till long after the second were hatched; they used to 

 come out regularly about 8.30 each evening, beating round the 

 paddocks and garden, much as the old birds did, and being fed by 

 them on the neighbouring trees. The second pair got away about 

 the end of June : since this time I have not seen them. 



Brownheaded Gull. — June 30th. Saw the first young of the year 

 on the foreshore. 



Heron. — July 1st. Several young herons, birds of the year, in 

 the marshes. 



Green Sandpiper. — July 8th. There was a single green sandpiper 

 on the beck this afternoon. 



Whimhrel. — July 12th, We have had whimbrel on the coast 

 all through the summer. This evening, at 8.30, two flocks passed 

 over the yard towards the Humber flats. 



Pochard (Fuligula ferina). — July liilh. There was a fine old 

 male, in full plumage, swimming close to the embankment this 

 morning. 



Redshank. — July 21st. I hear the wild "chirrup" of the red- 

 shank on the flats. With my binocular, I was watching one this 

 morning feeding on the muds under the embankment. What a 

 pretty bird it looks in its delicately shaded and pencilled dress 

 and bright coral legs, as it daintily steps over the semi-fluid ooze, 

 scarce leaving the imprint of its feet behind, — now wading through 

 some shallow pool, or standing awhile and jerking its head and 

 body, much after the fashion of the common sandpiper, — ever and 

 anon, too, picking out some small worm-like object from the mud. 

 I subsequently found this to be a small annelid about an inch in 

 length : the flats in places were pitted with their minute holes, 

 which I at first mistook for the borings of some wader, but looking 



