NOTES FROM NOBTHAMPTONSHIRE. 453 



showed him the bird, which my son described as being of the 

 colour of an Australian sovereign. 



On April 6th three Woodcocks, Scolopax rusticola, were ob- 

 served "glading" in Souther Wood. On the 8th Wild Ducks 

 were beginning to hatch. On the 11th fresh remains of Wood- 

 cock were found by Mr. Hunt in Little Wadenhoe Wood. On 

 the 15th Woodcock seen at dusk near Souther Wood, and again 

 on the 17th. On the i9th, vast numbers of Wood Pigeons in 

 flocks near Thurning. On the 20th four Swans, Cygnus sp. ?, were 

 seen by several persons about and near the park here on wing. 



On April 31st one of our gamekeepers assured me that he had 

 seen a large female Sparrowhawk, Accipiter nisus, in December 

 last, make several fierce dashes at a rabbit running on some bare 

 " spring" wood. We think that we shall be borne out by falconers 

 in stating that the above is a very uncommon occurrence ; but it 

 is not the first to the same effect that has reached us, and in this 

 instance we have every reason to believe in the complete accuracy 

 of our informant. 



On April 24th another Wild Ducks's nest with eggs was 

 reported as discovered on a broken elm-bough, in our park here, 

 at some fourteen feet from the ground. Woodcock seen in 

 Souther Wood on the 22nd. 



Spring migrants reported to us in the following order :— 



March 9. Whinchat, Pratincola rubetra. 



,, 22. Wheatear, Saxicola cenanthe. 



„ 27. Chiffchaff, Phylloscopus minor. 

 April 1. Redstart. Ruticdla phcenicura. 



„ 7. Wryneck, Yunx torquilla. 



„ 11. R'lug Oazel, Turdas torquatus ; Cnckoo, CuciUus canoriis 



„ 12. Swallow, Hirundo rustica. 



„ 13. WiWow Wveu. Phylloscopus trochilus ; Bhckc&p, Sylvia alri- 

 capilla. 



„ 16. Sand Martin, Cotyle riparia. 



„ 23. Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla rayi. 



„ 30. House Martin, Hirundo urhica. 

 May 2. Common Sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucus. 



„ 3. Wliitethroat, Carruca cinerea. 



„ 4. 'L&wAxaA, Crex pratensis ; Swiit, Cypselus cqms ; Spotted Flj-- 

 catcher, Muscicapa yrisola. 



„ 8. Hobby, Falco suhhuteo. 



,, 12. Turtle Dove, Turtur communis. 



