428 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
this neighbourhood during the early part of June. I may mention 
that these four drakes became fairly tame, and are now (Oct. 12th) 
beginning to show their true colours, after nearly three months 
of comparative dinginess. 
June 14th. The Garden Warbler is unusually abundant here. 
June 19th. I sent my falconer to try and find a Hobby’s nest 
in the wood from which we have procured young birds for the last 
three years; but although he saw a pair of old birds he could not 
find their eggs, the nest from which he took two young birds last 
August (cf. Zool. 1888, p. 468) being to-day occupied by five very 
young Kestrels. 
July 8th. My friend Lieut.-Colonel Irby, whilst searching for 
Lepidoptera in the wood above alluded to, flushed a Woodcock. 
I have several records of the nesting of this species in our county, 
but it may be fairly regarded as a very rare bird during the 
summer therein. Heard the hooting of the Tawny Owls for the 
first time since our arrival from Bournemouth on May 21st. 
July 11th. Although perhaps not strictly appertaining to 
county ornithology, I may mention that one of my Algerian 
Horned Larks, Otocorys bilopha, which escaped from its cage a few 
days ago, was recaptured this morning in a village more than two 
miles from this house, and brought back to me alive and uninjured. 
This recapture was most satisfactory to me, not only on account 
of the intrinsic value of the bird, but from the fact that had it 
fallen into the hands of an “intelligent taxidermist,” it would 
probably have been sold for an enormous sum, and figured in 
some collection as the first specimen of a species new to the 
British list. 
July 12th. First report of Snipes, seen on 7th, and a Green 
Sandpiper on 11th inst. 
July 14th. Noticed my Ruffs in the aviary eagerly pursuing 
and devouring the midges, which have been an intolerable and 
unusual nuisance during the last few days. I mention. this 
because I could not see that the other waders,—Knots, Redshanks, 
Godwits, Turnstones, &c.,— took any particular notice of these 
little pests. A solitary Curlew passed over, southwards bound. 
July 16th. Four Snipes on banks of the decoy pool. 
July 21st. My son reported the first Teal of the season. 
July 22nd. I received three young Hobbies of about ten days 
old from an old nest of Carrion Crow in our bordering county of 
