466 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Aug. 15th.— A young Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus, observed 
“hawking” over the river in pursuit of insects, after the manner 
of the Nightjar. 
Aug. 22nd.—A Barn Owl, Stria flammea, noticed by us flying 
to and fro over a meadow near this house, in broad daylight and 
sunshine, about 3 and 4 p.m. 
Aug. 24th.—Our usual harvest-time invasion of Sparrow- 
hawks, Accipiter nisus, seems to have set in; one of the game- 
keepers brought in two young females shot this morning, and 
reports of a sudden appearance of this species in some numbers 
reach us from all parts of the neighbourhood. A singularly 
fine adult male was killed by another of our gamekeepers on 
28th inst. 
Aug. 25th.—We observed what may fairly be termed a flock 
of Song Thrushes, T’urdus musicus, certainly not less than sixty 
or seventy, collected in a small willow-bed close to this house. 
Aug. 28th.—My friend Lieut.-Col. L. H. Irby told me that a 
Snipe committed suicide on Wadenhoe mill-stream by decapitating 
itself against some linked scythe-blades with which the water- 
weeds were being cut. 
Aug. 26th to 80th.—Sand Martins, Cotyle riparia, by no 
means a very abundant species in this immediate neighbourhood, 
appeared in great numbers about our river close to this house, 
between the dates given above. 
September 2nd.—We saw the first Grey Wagtail, Motacilla 
melanope, of the season at Lilford Locks. 
Sept. 4th.—The first Peregrine, Falco peregrinus (female) of 
the season, seen by one of our gamekeepers to cut down a 
Partridge on Pilton; the same keeper reports having repeatedly 
noticed a Hobby lately in the Aldwinkle district. 
Sept. 29th.—Starlings, Sturnus vulgaris, im small flocks very 
busy at the elder-berries, which are remarkably abundant this 
autumn in our neighbourhood. 
October 1st.—The first Ring Ouzel, T'wrdus torquatus, of the 
season seen near Lilford Reservoir. 
Oct. 2nd.—We noticed the first evidently migrating flock of 
stranger Wood Pigeons, Columba palumbus. 
Oct. 9th.—Heard for the first time this season the well-known 
chatter of the Fieldfare, Turdus pilaris; this is an it 
early occurrence of this species in this district. 
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