4326 Tue ZooLocist—Fesruary, 1875. 
it in his hand, and the man told me the effort was very nearly a 
successful one, for he was so “ taken aback” at the hawk’s audacity 
that he almost let the thrush go. This is boldnes swith a vengeance, 
and on the part (I have no doubt) of a sparrowhawk, for it is well 
known that this species, when in pursuit of its prey, is so blinded 
with impetuosity that it will not stick at trifles. 
Titmice and Kestrel.—13th. This afternoon, while I was standing 
in a field near a quickset-hedge watching a flock of longtailed, cole 
and marsh titmice feeding, all at once the former, who were on the 
most exposed branches, uttered a peculiar cry, and scrambled as 
fast as they were able into the thickest part of the hedge, their 
example being followed by all the others, and they had scarcely 
accomplished this when, with a rush, a fine female kestrel came 
swooping over the hedge, proceeded about a hundred yards, 
stopped, and commenced to hover. I was surprised the tits were 
so frightened, for I do not believe they are often molested by this 
bird. Probably they made a mistake, and imagined their deadly 
foe, a sparrowhawk, was approaching, for as soon as they saw 
what it really was they gradually crept out of their hiding-places, 
and with self-congratulatory twitters recommenced feeding. 
NOVEMBER. 
Tufted Duck.—9th. Noticed a couple diving near the Flat-oar 
Muds, but they were so wild they would not allow me to approach 
within shot of them. 
Lapwing.—9th. A flock of thirty-nine feeding on the mud 
opposite Stoke Gabriel, but the water was so shallow that our boat 
could not be brought near enough for a very successful shot. Two, 
however, were mortally wounded, and flew away over the mud 
towards the bank of the river, where they both fell under a hedge 
bordering the shingly beach, one apparently quite dead, but the 
other every now and again flapped its wings and struggled. Almost 
as soon as they fell a carrion crow alighted by the side of the still 
living one, and after a few moments a magpie appeared on the 
scene, and perched on a neighbouring bush, and was presently 
followed by several more crows, who took up their quarters on 
some elm trees close at hand and croaked ominously. Meanwhile 
the boatman, who had taken off his shoes and stockings, was 
splashing knee-deep through the soft ooze towards the plovers, 
both of which he suceeded in picking up, otherwise these crows 
