182 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Oct. 11. Fieldfare, Twrdus pilaris, first seen in our neighbourhood this 
autumn. 
Oct. 14. Two Siskins, Chrysomitris spinus, seen near Lilford, for the 
first time this season. 
Oct. 15. A wild Tiercel, Falco peregrinus, male (the first of its species 
seen by us this autumn), came to assist one of our trained Falcons ina 
flight at Partridges, near Wigsthorpe; this bird, or another of the same 
species and sex, was seen near the house at Lilford on the 17th inst. 
Seven Bramblings, Fringilla montifringilla, caught by a birdeatcher in our 
employ, near Achurch, on this and previous day. 
Oct. 16. First Woodcock, Scolopax rusticula, of the season seen in our 
neighbourhood. 
Oct. 18. A large slow-flying hawk, which, from the description given to 
us, must have been a Harrier, Circus cyaneus or C. cineraceus, was twice 
seen by our head gamekeeper near Achurch. 
Nov. 6. Swallow, Hirundo rustica, seen near Pilton. 
Noy. 18. Tufted Duck, Fuligula cristata, female, shot by one of our 
gamekeepers, on the Nene near Thrapston. 
Noy. 22. Pochard, Fuligula rujina, shot on the Nene near Aldwinkle. 
Nov. 27. A young Puflin, Fratereula arctica, sent to Lilford, alive, for 
me, but died the next day. This bird, as I was informed by my brother- 
in-law, who sent it to me, was picked up about three days previously in a 
farmyard at Yoke Hill, near Benefield. 
Dec. 6. Two large trips of Golden Plover, Charadrius pluvialis, observed 
going southwards up the Nene valley near Aldwinkle. 
Dec. 18. Cirl Bunting, Hmberiza cirlus, female, caught by a birdcatcher 
in our employ, ona farm of ours not far from Bythorn. ‘This is only the 
second instance of the occurrence of this species in our own county which 
has come to our knowledge. The individual just recorded was taken alive, 
but only survived its capture for a day or two. 
Dec. 29. A Gadwall, Anas strepera, male, one of two which had haunted 
the ponds near Lilford fur some days, was this day shot at our aviary pond. 
This is the first Northamptonshire specimen which we have handled in the 
flesh; but we have little doubt that this species is not so rare with us as 
is generally supposed. 
Jan. 2, 1885. We this day, in answer to our enquiries, received a letter 
from Mr. H. Capron, of Southwick Hall, Oundle, in which he informs us 
that during the month of July last, he several times met with young Snipes, 
Scolopax gallinago, only just able to fly, on the banks of the Nene, near 
Tansor. ‘This is the first positive evidence we have received of the breeding 
of this species in our neighbourhood, though we have long had reason to 
believe that a pair or two of Snipes occasionally remained to breed in our 
swampy meadows. 
