99 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
22nd four more were laid; on the 27th, two; and on June 38rd, 
three; making a total of fourteen!” 
Jyna torquilla (Linn.). Wryneck; ‘ Cuckoo’s Mate;” “Snake- 
bird.”—A summer migrant, sparingly distributed, and becoming 
less common than formerly. Harley says, “‘ The Wryneck nests 
with us, breeding in holes in orchard and forest trees. It appears 
nowhere more common than around Foxton. The ash prevails 
there, and, moreover, ant-hillocks abound to a much greater 
extent than in any other district known to us.” According to 
Mr. Macaulay (‘Midland Naturalist,’ 1881, p. 255), a pair built 
that year in a garden at Kibworth, and were not disturbed. 
Fam. ALCEDINIDS. 
Alcedo ispida, Linn. Kingfisher. — Resident, and generally 
distributed. Elkington reports several from the vicinity of 
Leicester during the winter of 1884-5. I have repeatedly observed 
specimens on the brook at Knighton, and on the Soar at, 
Aylestone. It has, I believe, bred at Bradgate, Blaby, Bosworth, 
Desford, Stapleford Park, &c.; and on May 22nd, 1885, Master 
George Snoad presented to the Museum four fresh eggs,—being 
part of a clutch of nine,—taken from a hole in a clay-bank by a 
little pond close to the Aylestone Road, at some distance from 
the river. The eggs, laid upon fish-bones, were, before being 
- blown, of a delicate pink hue. 
Fam. Upupip®. 
Upupa epops, Linn. Hoopoe. — An occasional spring and 
autumn visitant. The first notice I can find of this bird is con- 
tained in the catalogue of the contents of the Museum, when 
handed over by the Literary and Philosophical Society to the 
Corporation of Leicester on June 19th, 1849 :—“ 1 Upupa epops, 
shot in Leicestershire.” Harley writes, “This species has 
occurred in the county in immature plumage, a fine example 
having been shot in the lordship of Stapleton on September 15th, 
1851. This was presented by him to the Town Museum, where 
it is still preserved (1885). The Hoopoe is said to have occurred 
also at Bradgate Park, and near Lutterworth. The MS. Donation 
Book, Leicester Town Museum, records the presentation on 
June 26th, 1867, by Mr. C. Burdett, of another example (still in 
existence) “shot in the county of Leicester.” I saw a very fine 
