NOTES FROM NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 429 
Rutland. I mention this only because these are the earliest 
nestlings of their species that I have ever seen. 
July 23rd. Several Cirl Buntings seen lately about the same 
spot as the bird of this species previously mentioned. 
July 24th. A female Peregrine seen close to the house. 
July 30th. Mr. W. Nichols was good enough to make me a 
present of a Dotterel, Hudromias morinellus, stuffed and mounted. 
This bird was killed on the Grange Farm, Raunds, on Oct. 26th, 
1886, and is the only Northamptonshire specimen of its species 
that I have ever seen, although a flock of these birds appeared in 
our meadows in April, 1887, as already recorded in this Journal 
(cf. Zool. 1887, p. 253). A Spotted Crake was flushed by the 
otter-hounds this afternoon above Aldwincle. 
Aug. 4th. Pied Wagtails, in family parties of fives and sixes, 
gathering about the gravel-drive in front of the house to the 
number of thirty to forty. 
Aug. 7th. A Curlew was brought to me alive, but dreadfully 
emaciated, by one Tiney, of Woodford, who informed me that it 
was picked up, unable to fly, near that village, about a fortnight 
ago. Although many of this species pass southwards up our 
valley in late summer and early autumn, and some, no doubt, 
upon their return migration in April and May, this is the first 
Northamptonshire Curlew that I have handled. 
Aug. 11th. On this day, and on many subsequent occasions, 
my young Rutland Hobbies (cf. supra), now flying “at hack” in 
the park, were joined by an old bird of their species. 
Aug. 12th. My falconer, after several fruitless expeditions 
in search of Hobbies to the wood whence we have previously 
obtained them, to-day discovered the nest, at a considerable 
distance from the quarter formerly frequented by these hawks, 
but two young Hobbies had taken wing, and were careering from 
tree to tree, closely attended by the old birds. The nest only 
contained one rotten and discoloured egg. 
Aug. 13th. Six large grey Gulls going over southwards. 
Aug. 19th. A very perfect specimen of Spotted Crake was 
picked up on the L.N.W. Railway near Thorpe Station, and 
brought to me, having obviously killed itself by flying against the 
telegraph-wires. 
Aug. 26th. Mr. G. Hunt reported that whilst Wood Pigeon 
shooting on his manor to-day, he witnessed the passage of fifty - 
