The Zoologist — August, 1874. 4117 



between the numbers of the species. — S.H.Saxby; East Clevedon, Somerset, 

 June 24, 1874. 



Osprey carrying off Chickens. — Observing Mr. Arthur John Clark- 

 Kennedy's account of an osprey carrying off chickens, in the May number 

 of the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 3996), and as such behaviour is not in accordance 

 with the usual habits of the species, I have pleasure in reminding your 

 readers of a similar occurrence recorded by me in the ' Zoologist ' for 

 December, 1868 (S. S. 1484). See also ' Birds of the West of Scotland,' 

 page 20. — John A. Harvie Brown; Bunipace House, Falkirk, N.B., 

 June 29, 1874. 



Buzzards in Norfolk. — On March 4th, 1874, a good male specimen of 

 the roughlegged buzzard was shot at Burgh, near Yarmouth : it had been 

 resident in that neighbourhood for several weeks previously, feeding chiefly 

 on the fieldfares and lapwings frequenting the surrounding marshes. A 

 female common buzzard was shot at Bergh Apton on the 20th of March : 

 stomach full of rabbit's fur. — T. E. Ounn; Upper St. Giles Street, Norwich. 

 Marsh Harrier in Suffolk. — A male specimen of the marsh harrier was 

 captured on the 8th of May, 1874, in the neighbourhood of Yaxford, in 

 Suffolk.— Id. 



Food of Barn Owl and Great Spotted Woodpecker. — Many observers 

 assert that the barn owl feeds almost, if not quite, exclusively on mice and 

 young rats : in dissecting an old bird very recently I took from its stomach 

 the remains of a sedge warbler, the head and legs being quite entire and easily 

 distinguishable. I also picked up an almost full-grown water vole, quite 

 dead, that had been dropped by the old bird near its nest. The great 

 spotted woodpecker seems excessively fond of the larva of the goat moth. 

 I know of an old tree close by this city completely bored and riddled by 

 this insect, and which is the favourite resort of a pair of these birds in 

 obtaining food. One of the old birds was unfortunately killed, and when 

 picked up had between its mandibles an immense goat-larva, measuring 

 over three inches and a half in length ; it was crushed all over and quite 

 dead. The bird itself smelt very strongly of the peculiar odour; its 

 stomach on dissection was found to be filled with the remains of the larvae. — 

 Id.; June, 1874. 



Pied Flycatcher In Norfolk. — A male in adult plumage was obtained on 

 the 15th of May, 1874, at Stalham : stomach full of minute insects. — Id. 



Lesser Redpoll breeding near Norwich.— A nest of the lesser redpoll, 

 containing two fresh-laid eggs, was taken on the 16th of May, 1874, on 

 Higham Causeway, Norwich : it was built in the branches of an alder-bush. 

 The nest was composed of green moss and fine dry grass, lined inside with 

 fine cow-hair and the down of the cotton-rush and a feather or two. The 

 lesser redpoll is becoming quite a resident in Norfolk : I have noticed its 



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