4860 Tue ZooLocist—ApriL, 1876. 
Redwing.—On the 9th the snow brought the redwings back to 
the lawn and Dene, and | observed that their chief feeding-ground 
was under the yew trees; in turning over the dead leaves they 
were very quarrelsome. I have not seen a fieldfare since the 24th 
of January. 
Greater Spotted Woodpecker.—-One seen on the 10th a little 
north of the Dene. During a residence here of sixteen he 
I have only twice before met with this species. 
Kestrels and Royston Crows.— On the 18th I ob the 
kestrels were already returning to their nesting quarters. I stood 
and watched for a long time two males and a female wheeling 
about the edge of a high rock; they were at last joined by two 
Royston crows, and it was really very pretty to see them swooping 
at each other; the crows apparently wanted to settle on the trees 
at the top of the rock, and the kestrels were determined they 
should not. The Royston crow has far more power on the wing 
than I had expected to see: they are very numerous here just 
now: they find plenty to eat in the shape of wounded or dead 
hares and rabbits, and an old horse quartered and hung up for the 
dogs is much frequented by them, but unfortunately for them it is 
too near the keeper’s gun, and not a few, I see, have feasted and 
died there. 
Ring Dove, §c.—On the 19th I heard the note of the ring dove. 
On the 28rd the partridges were screeching in almost every field: 
although there was a strong north-east wind and pelting rain, the 
sheltered parts of the Dene were ringing with song. 
Curlew, Stint and Ring Plover.—I walked from Hartlepool to 
the Tees on the 24th, and did not see more than a dozen 
gulls, and on the “slake” I saw a flock of about fifty curlews 
and a large flock of what I thought were knots, but although 
1 had a good glass I could not clearly make them out. There 
were also two large flocks of stints and a few ring plovers, all 
very wild; and no wonder, for I suppose, as there are so many 
“gunners” go there, that the birds get no rest. One of these 
“gentlemen” told me that he had never known a winter when 
birds were so scarce. 
JoHN SCLATER. 
Castle Eden, Durham, 
