430 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
five Wild Geese, seven Curlews and some three hundred Peewits, 
all bound in a south-westerly direction. 
Aug. 28th. The station-master at Thorpe, L.N.W.R., brought 
me a wing of Spotted Crake, clean cut off from the body by 
telegraph-wires, and picked up this morning on the railway line. 
Aug. 3lst. We flushed the first Water Rail of the season on 
the left bank of the river, between Lilford and Stoke Doyle. 
Sept. 5th. Saw the first Grey Wagtail of season. 
Sept. 7th. Saw the first Merlin of season. 
Sept. 8th. The first Wigeon of season dropped on to the 
decoy-pool, and was joined by four more on the 16th inst. 
Sept. 21st. Very large numbers of House Martins congregating 
in sheltered spots. 
Sept. 22nd. A Spotted Crake, shot on Thorpe, brought in 
to me; another seen at the decoy. 
Sept. 23rd. First report of Redwings this season. 
Sept. 80th. A Spotted Crake, snared at the decoy, brought 
to me quite uninjured, and immediately set at liberty. First Grey 
Crow of season seen; first Jack Snipe of season seen, and shot. 
Oct. 4th. First Woodcock of season reported. 
Oct. 7th. A male Peregrine passed the hawk-hut, but being 
evidently full-fed, took no notice of the decoy-pigeon. 
Oct. 10th. First report of Brambling this season. 
Oct. 13th. First Pochard of the season (a fine old male) 
dropped in upon the wildfowl-pond close to the house. First 
Fieldfare of season reported. 
Oct. 16th. First flight of migrating Wood Pigeons reported. 
I conclude by mentioning the dates of the appearance of 
summer migrants in Northamptonshire in 1889, which may be 
useful for comparison with dates observed in other parts of the 
country :—Feb. 21st, Wheatear. March 25th, Chiffchaff; 31st, 
Wryneck. April 6th, Woodcock; 10th, Willow Wren; 17, Swal- 
low; 18th, Redstart; 19th, Nightingale, Blackcap; 20th, Jack 
Snipe, Tree Pipit; 22nd, Sedge Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat ; 
93rd, Green Sandpiper, Cuckoo; 24th, Whitethroat, Common 
Sandpiper; 25th, Landrail, Ray’s Wagtail; 30th, Redshank. 
May 1st, Reed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher, Turtle Dove, “ Sea- 
swallow”; 8rd, Whinchat; 5th, Swift; 7th Spotted Flycatcher ; 
8th, Red-backed Shrike; 9th, Whimbrel; 10th, Curlew; 11th, 
Nightjar; 20th, Hobby, 
