116 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Birds and Telegraph-wires. — In connection with this subject, an 

 incident I think worth noting was given me the other day, by Capt. A. P. 

 Moore, of Weybread, Suffolk. Several years ago, when walking one 

 stormy winter's day on a farm in Buckinghamshire, skirting the main line 

 of the London and North Western Railway, he came on a flock of Larks 

 feeding in a turnip-field next the rails. The birds all rose at his approach, 

 and the whole flock flew directly into the wires, which are very numerous 

 there. Captain Moore picked up thirty-six dead Larks, a Thrush, and 

 a Blackbird which had risen with the flock, and there were several cripples 

 which escaped him. The birds were all much mutilated ; the heads 

 of several were cut off, and many had lost a wing or a leg. The plate- 

 layers on this line said they very frequently found dead partridges under 

 the wires on going to their work in the morning.— C. Candler (Harleston, 

 Norfolk). 



Crossbills in Co. Kildare. — On the '28th of December last I met 

 with a flock of seven or eight Crossbills, Lox-ia curvirostra, near Rathangan, 

 Co. Kildare, and shot one, a male, in grayish brown plumage. The top of 

 the head showed a tinge of red, and to a less extent the breast and throat 

 also. When I first observed the birds they were fitting busily about some 

 Scotch firs, and afterwards settled on some larch trees. They were very 

 tame, and allowed me to walk round them quite close and pick out a speci- 

 men. — Percy E. Freke (Rosemount, Dundrum). 



Osprey akd Honey Buzzard in Lincolnshire. — I received, for pre- 

 servation, a specimen of each of these birds from Lincolnshire, last October. 

 The Osprey, apparently a bird of the year, was shot in North Lincolnshire ; 

 and the Honey Buzzard, a fine dark-plumaged specimen, was shot in the 

 South. Both were males. — J. Cullingford (University Museum, Durham). 



Honey Buzzards in Buckinghamshire. — I hear that two Honey 

 Buzzards were killed in Shabbiugton Woods, near Brill, by the late 

 Mr. Henley's head gamekeeper, on or about the 23rd September last. One, 

 a very dark bird, was preserved by Mr. Darby, of Oxford. Some wasps 

 were taken from the throat, and the stomach contained a few of the larva?. — 

 F. C. Aplin (Bodicote, Oxon). 



Migkation of Birds at Harwich. — On the 3rd and 5th October 

 Hooded Crows were seen coming off the sea, and on the latter date three 

 Fieldfares and seven Redwings were seen. On the 17th thousands of Larks 

 were seen crossing the sea ; they continued coming all day. On the 20th 

 large numbers of Hooded Crows, Rooks, Starlings, and Wagtails, were seen 

 coming over the sea, many of the latter resting on the fishing-boats whilst 

 at sea. A great many Golden-crested Wrens arrived, and might be seen in 

 almost every hedgerow. — F. Kerry (Harwich). 



