26 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



spoken about it all say they have not met with one for a long time, and 

 I cannot see any recently-killed ones hung up in the places where such 

 trophies are usually suspended. The Weasel also seems to be getting 

 scarce. It would be well to put on record, before it is too late to do so with 

 accuracy, the date at which the Polecat became extinct in Devon, if it be 

 sb, and I should be very glad to learn what others know about it. The 

 Stoat appears to be still moderately plentiful.— W. S.M. D 'Urban (Exeter). 



BIRDS. 



Ornithological Notes from North Northamptonshire.— The Hobby, 

 Falco subbuteo, was, as before mentioned (Zool. 1882, p. 302), much more 

 frequent in our neighbourhood during the summer of 1882 than for many 

 years previously ; the last seen was distinctly recognised by me on the 17th 

 September. The Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus, was reported to 

 me, on good authority, as having been observed in pursuit of a covey of 

 Partridges on September 7th. I merely note this as a somewhat early 

 appearance of this species in our locality. The first Wigeon, Mama 

 penelope (a female), was seen and shot September SJSrd ; a Teal, Querquedvia 

 crecca, was killed on the same day, but several of this latter species appeared 

 about Lilford in the third week of August, and I have good grounds for 

 believing that the Teal occasionally breeds in our neighbourhood. A Quail, 

 Cotumix communis, was killed near Lowick, Thrapston, September 9th — 

 the first occurrence of this species in our neighbourhood, which has come to 

 my knowledge for several years past. I noticed a Grey Wagtail, Motacilla 

 mlphurea, about the boatbouse at Lilford, September 15tb. I have seldom, 

 if ever, seen this Bpeciea hereabouts before November, but one of our people 

 who was with me, and saw this bird just mentioned, assures me that the 

 firey Wagtail (which he perfectly distinguishes from the Yellow, M. Rayi), 

 breeds every year at Titchmarsh Mill, on the Xen, about two miles from 

 Lilford. The first Redwing of the season was seen by me October 5th, 

 first heard of October 3rd (unusually late); first Jack Snipe, Gallinago 

 gallinula, Uct. lUth ; Grey Crow, Corvua eornisr, Sept. 80th (exceptionally 

 early); Laughing Gulls, Larus ridibundus, Oct. 13th ; Golden Plovers, 

 Charadrius pluvialis, Oct. 3rd; Ling Ouzel, Tardus torquatus, Oct. 13th. 

 A trained Falcon, soaring high in air over our valley, was stooped at 

 repeatedly by a small bird of prey, which 1 have no doubt was a Merlin, 

 Falco CBsalon. On the day following this occurrence (Oct. 8th) my falconer 

 assured me that he saw no less than six Merlins pass over the house at 

 Lilford in a southerly direction in less than an hour's time. My friend and 

 neighbour, Mr. G. Hunt, reported having witnessed an extraordinary 

 migration of Starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, on October 20th; he describes 

 them as passing him in thousands for more than two hours, flying low in a 

 southerly direction, against the wind, up the valley of the Nen. A very 



