NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 467 
Oct. 12th.—The first Teal, Anas crecca, of the season, shot 
by my son near Aldwinkle. I cannot look upon this as the 
earliest seasonal occurrence of the Teal with us this year, as we 
generally meet with a few in September, and not rarely in 
August, but their favourite haunts had not been lately invaded 
by any of us, and the above is the first appearance that has 
come to my knowledge this autumn. 
Oct. 15th.—The first Grey Crow, Corvus cornix, of the season 
positively identified, but I feel very little doubt about having 
heard one of these birds some three days ago. A Twite, Linota 
flavirostris, taken alive by a birdcatcher near Thorpe Achurch. 
Oct. 20th.—The first Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola, of the 
season reported to us as seen within a very short distance of 
this house. 
Oct. 21st.—A Mealy Redpoll, Linota linaria, taken alive by 
birdeatcher near this place; I consider this species as an 
exceedingly rare visitor to this district. We heard to-day, from 
the Hon. Thomas Fitzwilliam, a most circumstantial account of 
his having seen at very close quarters, near Milton, two birds, 
which from his description must have been Little Owls, Carine 
noctua; Mr. Fitzwilliam was uncertain as to the date of this 
occurrence, but thought it was about ten years ago. 
November 3rd.—A pair of Pintails, Anas acuta, reported to 
us as frequenting our home and decoy ponds. 
Noy. 14th.—About two days before this date a Red-throated 
Diver, Colymbus septentrionalis, was picked up alive near Pytchley, 
and brought to Mr. J. Field, of Kettering, who informed me by 
letter of the occurrence, but called the bird a Great Northern 
Diver ; the specimen was, however, examined shortly afterwards 
by the Rev. H. Slater, who kindly told me that it was a fine 
example of C. septentrionalis in winter dress. 
Noy. 20th.—-About this day a bird, which was reported to me 
asan “ Hagle,” was seen by one of our gamekeepers near this 
house; from subsequent accounts given by others who saw this 
rara avis we have no doubt that it was a Rough-legged Buzzard, 
Buteo lagopus. This individual haunted our neighbourhood for 
some weeks after the above date. 
Nov. 28th.—I received a letter from the Rey. H. Slater, 
informing me that he had seen, ata birdstuffer’s shop in Welling- 
borough, an adult specimen of the Arctic Tern, Sterna macrura, 
