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NOTES AND QUERIES. 
The Ornithology of Japan.—Capt. Blakiston, who has been resident in 
Japan for more than twenty years, has published an amended list of the 
birds of that country, with the Ornithology of which he certainly possesses 
a better practical acquaintance than any one else. The list is founded on 
a previous catalogue prepared in 1882 by himself and Mr. H. Pryer; but 
the species are now arranged geographically, so as to show the distribution 
of birds through the different islands of Japan. The author draws atten- 
tion to the natural division in the fauna of Japan, which is marked by 
the Strait of Tsungaru, to the southward of which the true Japanese 
avifauna is emphasised, while north of this Strait the avifauna is Siberian 
in character. 
The Marine Biological Association—We understand that a paper 
treating of the aims and objects of the Marine Biological Association will 
be read at the rooms of the Society of Arts, on Wednesday, May 138th, at 
8p.m. The site for the building which is to be erected at Plymouth has, 
with the consent of the Town Council, been approved by the area ea of 
the War Office. 
BIRDS. 
Notes on the Ornithology of Northamptonshire.—I resume my 
notes from my last date, Sept. 14, 1884 (Zool. 1884, p. 455) :— 
Sept. 19. A Cuckoo was seen near Lilford on this day. 
Sept. 20. The last Landrail, Crex pratensis, of the season shot near 
Titchmarsh. 
Sept. 28. Three Teal, Anas crecca, seen near Aldwincle for the first 
time this autumn. 
Sept. 24. Two Green Sandpipers, Totanus ochropus, at Lilford Park 
ponds; this species has been unusually scarce in our neighbourhood this 
summer. 
Sept. 26. Grey Wagtails, Motacilla melanope, appeared about this date 
in some numbers. 
Sept. 30. We saw the first Merlin, Falco esalon, of the season. 
Oct. 2. A small trip of Golden Plovers, Charadrius pluvialis, observed 
for the first time this autumn. 
Oct. 5. Four Wild Geese, Anser sp. ?, seen on pasture land near Thorpe. 
Oct. 6. A Grey Crow, Corvus cornix, shot near Lilford; we have little 
doubt, however, as to having seen one of this species, at a great distance, 
on the Ist inst. 
