NOTES FROM NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 465 



Sept. 29th. My falconer, who was at the hawk-catching hut 

 to-day, reported two Hobbies, two Merlins, and large numbers of 

 Tree and Meadow Pipits travelling southwards, and a pied Gold- 

 finch near our Lilford stone -quarries. 



Sept. 30th. The Eev. H. H. Slater, in a most interesting letter 

 of this day's date, informs me that a very fine old Lesser Black- 

 backed Gull was shot at Knuston, on April 28th ult., and brought 

 to him. This species is not exceedingly rare in the Nene Valley, 

 but I have very seldom seen, and never handled, an adult North- 

 amptonshire specimen. Mr. Slater writes : — " It had on the second 

 primaries, as well as on the outer ones, a subterminal spot of 

 white, showing it to be a very old bird." In connection with the 

 very unusually early appearance of the Fieldfare near Aldwinkle, 

 above recorded, I may add that Mr. Slater informs me that a flock 

 of some twenty of these birds passed close to him near Kingston, 

 Cambridgeshire, on the 5th inst. First Redwings of season seen 

 near Thorpe. 



October 1st. First Grey Crow of season seen near the decoy. 

 Twenty-five Mallards and Ducks and one Wigeon taken in one 

 drive on the 4th inst. 



Oct. 4th. Two pied Goldfinches (cf. supra) and first Twite of 

 season taken by a birdcatcher in my employ at Lilford stone- 

 quarries. These Goldfinches were a pair of young birds, and 

 differ from the normal type in having all the parts that are usually 

 a fine brown of a pale buff or fawn-colour. 



Oct. 6th. In ' The Field ' of this day, Col. E. R. Cottingham, 

 R.A., records having shot a Rose-coloured Pastor in his garden 

 at Weedon on Sept. 10th. At my request, Col. Cottingham most 

 obligingly sent this bird to Lilford for my inspection ; it is, 

 I think, an adult male, with good crest, and in fair colour. This 

 is the first occurrence of this species in our county that has 

 come to my knowledge. Col. Cottingham has made me a present 

 of this specimen. 



Oct. 8th. The falconer caught a young male Sparrowhawk at 

 the hut, and reports that a female of the same species came at 

 his pigeon whilst the male was struggling in one of the nets, but 

 the lady declined to " bind to." 



Oct. 10th. A reputed Little Auk picked up near Pipe well 

 Hall, Kettering, early in April last, was sent me to-day for 

 inspection, and proved to be, as I expected, a young Puffin. 



