1412 The Zoologist — October, 1808. 



blackbirds I have seen on the roads searching in horse- dung for stray 

 grains of corn ; rooks attacked the crops in an earlier stage of their 

 growth than is ordinarily the case. The supply of insects has been 

 almost inexhaustible, and it may be owing to this circumstance that 

 the sparrows have done so little damage to the wheat crop : I never 

 had less to lay to their charge on this head. 



Grasshopper Warbler. — This is a rare species in North Lincolnshire. 

 Up to this season I have only noted a single instance of its appearance 

 (May 15, 18G3). This year is, however, an exception: their peculiar 

 and unmistakable note might daily be heard in the low-lying planta- 

 tions near the streams : I have heard in the summer evenings as many 

 as three all "reeling" in concert. They are a most difficult bird to 

 see, as on the slightest noise they drop from their perch — often the 

 side of a tall reed — and are lost amidst the dense aquatic vegetation. 



Missel Thrush. — July 27. Small flocks seen flying over the 

 parish. 



Probability of the Green Sandpiper breeding in North Lincoln- 

 shire. — Two pairs of these birds have remained on our "beck" during 

 the summer, — one pair in this, the other in the adjoining parish, — and 

 I think it is very probable they nest in some one of the dense planta- 

 tions in the vicinity of this stream. Some years since I remember 

 putting up several young birds near a willow holt on this same stream : 

 this was early in August; and the fish-keeper informs me that he has 

 yearly observed the young brood with the old birds about this date: 

 this year he saw the two old and two young birds together on the 

 Hist of July : he says that they usually have three or four young ones, 

 but this year only two. Occasionally during July I put up a single 

 bird from a beach on this stream : it would fly round and round the 

 adjoining plantations, constantly uttering its shrill whistle, and might 

 be found every day near the same spot. 



Snipe. — First seen on the 2Glh of July. 



Whimbrel. — July 28. First autumnal appearance: a flock of about 

 thirty seen in the marsh. 



Golden Plover. — August 6. Four seen together in the marsh were 

 in full summer plumage. 



Greenshank and Redshank, — August 18. I shot a beautiful mature 

 male greenshank on the "fittiss" this evening : it was flying in com- 

 pany with a redshank, and, by a singular coincidence, got both birds 

 at the same shot. The stomach of the greenshank contained, ex- 

 clusively, the remains of a small crab about the size of a large pea. 



