3856 The Zoologist — February, 1874. 



Ornilhological Noies from North Lincolnshire. 

 By John Cordeaux, Esq. 



(Continued from S. S. 3782). 



November and December, 1873. 



Common and Jack Snipe. — November 2nd. Many both common 

 and jack snipe arrived in the marshes about this date. Wind 

 E.N.E. 



Tree Sparrow. — This has been a most abundant species through- 

 out the autumn. I see flocks, often containing several hundreds, 

 almost each day, both amongst the hedges of the enclosed portions 

 of the parish, as well as on the stubbles in the open marshes. 

 They feed on scattered grain and various small seeds. Many 

 I notice come to roost in the evening into the plantations, par- 

 ticularly those containing spruce. They do not resort much to the 

 neighbourhood of houses or buildings, keeping, as a rule, to the 

 open fields, woods and hedges. We sometimes, however, take an 

 odd bird or two along with the common species in the sparrow-net 

 from the stack-sides and the ivy on the walls of the house. 



Peregrine Falcon. — Nov. 14lh. Almost every autumn and winter 

 I come across the peregrine beating for prey in the marshes or along 

 the coast. One this morning swooped at a curlew, singling it out 

 from a flock of six or seven. The falcon missed his stoop and did 

 not renew il, flying off" in a straight line, without making any further 

 attempt to molest the birds, they on their part setting up the most 

 hideous "caterwauling" and outcry I have heard for some time. 



Fieldfare. — Nov. 14th. There have been large arrivals of these 

 northern thrushes during the past week, and many large flocks 

 have gone inland from our marshes. 



Bedicing. — Nov. 14lh. I have noticed during the last ten days 

 larger and more numerous flocks of redwings in this parish than has 

 been the case since the severe winter of 1860-61. 



Knot. — Nov. 7 and 8. Immense flocks arrived on the muddy 

 foreshores of the river, probably the main body on llieir southern 

 autumn migration, as they only remained a few days, during which 

 time they were excessively wild and wary. On the 2nd December, 

 on the North Cotes coast, there was the largest assemblage of knots 

 I have seen for many years. One flock alone, when on the wing, 

 extended not less than six hundred yards, flying at first in tolerably 



