THE ZooLocist—JuLy, 1876... 4989 
the month of May. I have neither seen nor heard the corncrake or 
the grasshopper warbler. 
Gray Wagtail—May 28. I have seen three broods of these 
birds, fully fledged and capable of looking after themselves, being 
dispersed on different parts of the streams. I had a great treat 
given me the other day by one of these young birds: I was sitting 
under a yew at the side of a stream when I heard the notes of one 
on the wing; it alighted on a bare ash just above me, and at once 
commenced a really very sweet and pleasing song. I never before 
heard a wagtail sing. 
JOHN SCLATER. 
Castle Eden, Durham. 
Rare Birds near Ringwood during the Winter of 1875-76. 
By Mr. G. B. Corsin. 
THE following species have fallen under my notice, and I 
personally inspected the majority of them :— 
Peregrine Falcon.—Two females were killed, and a male seen in 
October. One of the females was the largest I had ever seen, but 
its plumage was dull. 
Hen Harrier and Montagws Harrier.—A male of the former 
was killed dn the 16th of November, and a female was trapped in 
the forest in January. I saw a male of Montagu’s harrier in 
December in a somewhat strange situation,—viz., flying over the 
river,—where some months before I had seen an osprey. The 
harrier flew within fifteen yards of where I was standing, and I 
had a good opportunity of admiring its airy and beautiful swallow- 
like flight. 
Merlin.—A female was shot on the 15th of February, when in 
the act of striking at a skylark. 
Great Gray Shrike.—A beautiful specimen was caught in a trap 
which had been placed for a hawk upon the top of a post. It is 
the first 1 had ever seen in the flesh. 
Bitiern.—A male was shot on the 19th of February. It was in 
beautiful plumage, and is the only one I have seen this season. 
Sclavonian Grebe (?).—I interrogate the name, as I have a doubt 
connected with it. In March a fisherman brought me a grebe he 
had found on the river; at a glance I saw it was different in 
SECOND SERIES—VOL, XI, 2L 
