4986 Tur ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876. 
the bird had cost him no end of trouble, having previously refused 
all sorts of bait, but was at last caught by an empty egg-shell; the 
man having eaten the egg for breakfast, seemed proud that he had 
at last fairly shown that he “had more brains than the crow.” 
This species still contrives to rear a brood or two every season in 
the Dene, near the coast. I never see them far inland, but they 
are always to be seen feeding on the sea-shore, among the rocks. 
Royston Crow.—-10th. Royston crows seem to have all left the 
neighbourhood. 
Woodeock.—On the J8th the keeper brought in a woodcock 
which he had been stupid enough to shoot. I opened the bird, 
which was a female, and by the state of the ovaries convinced him 
of his folly ; the bird had evidently settled to breed here. He has 
since seen three or four more, a pair constantly visiting a small 
“runner” from the pigstye near his house. 
Willow Wren and Tree Pipit.—2\st. I heard the song of the 
willow wren and tree pipit? 
Roughlegged Buzzard—On the 25th I saw a roughlegged 
buzzard flying slowly past the house, escorted by some eight or 
nine rooks; he or she appeared to have come’ from the rookery, 
and was not then flying as high as the trees. The rooks, however, 
kept at a respectable distance on the flanks and rear: the buzzard 
seemed to take no notice of them. This seemed a very light- 
coloured bird; it has not been seen since, and would therefore 
appear to have only paid us a flying visit. 
Fieldfare.—On the 28th a large flock reappeared in the grounds 
around the house: since the 24th of January, when they entirely 
left us, I have seen none until to-day. 
Missel Thrush and Blackbird.—Hearing the loud screaming of 
a young bird, and immediately following it the wild alarm notes of 
a male blackbird, which I saw flying towards a bare and solitary 
thorn, I ran expecting to find a cat or hawk the cause of the dis- 
turbance, and on reaching the spot, off went what I at the first 
moment took for a male kestrel, but the next instant I both saw 
and heard, by his harsh notes, that the marauder was a missel 
thrush. I found the young blackbird at the foot of the thorn, 
seemingly nothing the worse; but it might have been different if I 
had not appeared on the scene, and I wish vow that I had not 
been so hasty, as I cannot prove he would have killed it; but I am 
satisfied in my own mind that he would. There was no nest of the 
