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THE ZOOLOGIST. 



The following list of dates of appearance of spring migrants 

 at and about Lilford may be relied upon, as far as it goes, but is 

 lamentably deficient : — 



April. 



2. Garganey. 



3. Wheatear, Shoveller, Redshank. 



4. Chiffchaff, Dunlin. 

 15. Swallow. 



17. Cuckoo, House Martin, Redstart. 



18. Sand Martin, Yellow Wagtail. 

 ] 9. Willow Wren. 



21. Tree Pipit. 

 25. Ring Ouzel. 



April. 



28. Spotted Flycatcher, Whitethroat. 



29. Wryneck, Nightingale, Blackcap. 



May. 



1 . Sedge Warbler. 



2. Reed Warbler, Landra 



3. Nightjar. 



5. Common Sandpiper. 

 10. Pied Flycatcher. 



It will be observed that in the above list there is no mention 

 of several of our regular spring visitors — e.g., Red-backed Shrike, 

 Swift, Lesser Whitethroat, Wood Wren, Whinchat, Turtle Dove, 

 or Hobby. I can only say that all these species were here in 

 early June in about their usual numbers, except the Swift, which 

 was very much more abundant than I ever knew it to be. The 

 Shoveller, Garganey, and Pied Flycatcher are scarce in our 

 locality; a fine male of the latter species shot on May 10th is the 

 first that has ever been obtained near Lilford, to my knowledge. 



A Tern (in all probability Sterna fluviatilis) was seen near the 

 decoy on May 22nd. 



My falconer, E. C, writing on May 29th, stated ;— " I found a 

 Hawfinch's nest in a thick yew-tree close by the aviary; it was going 

 on well till yesterday, and one of the three eggs in it got broken ; 

 the birds deserted it, and I took it away." When we returned to 

 Lilford, in June, and I examined this nest, I had no difficulty in 

 discovering the species of the egg-breaker by the well-known 

 and very pungent odour that a Squirrel had left behind him 

 therein. 



A nest of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker containing five eggs 

 was found on the lawn at Lilford on May 29th : the hole was in a 

 decayed bough of an old whitethorn-bush, at about 18 feet from 

 the ground, and very well concealed by surrounding foliage. This 

 little Woodpecker is exceedingly common at Lilford, but we have 

 not often succeeded in our numerous searches for an occupied 

 breeding-hole ; in this instance two of the eggs were taken, and 

 the remaining three safely hatched out. 



June 27th. A fine adult male Eed-backed Shrike was brought 



