250 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



some two or three months, but left when the frost and snow 

 came. But to my surprise, on my return from Scotland a few 

 days ago, I found it (or anotlier bird exactly like it) here again. 

 I do not know how long it has been here, as I have been away 

 from home for about five weeks." {Gf. my note of July 13th, 

 Zool. 1886, p. 468). Sir Rainald adds, " Crested Grebe, Podiceps 

 cristattts, have nested here last year and this." 



Nov. 16th. I received a letter from Captain J. A. M. Vipan, 

 of Stibbington Hall, near Wansford, in which he states, 

 " Whilst out punting on the Wash, on October 28th, I killed a 

 Eed-throated Diver with the red-throat patch. I also killed a 

 Black-throated Diver on November 12th — the first I have ever 

 seen on the Wash." 



In two letters, dated respectively Nov. 9th and 16th, Lieut. - 

 Colonel G. Morgan, writing from his residence, Biddlesden Park, 

 near Brackley, very kindly informed me that " The late Dr. Leith 

 Adams once spent three days here. He was especially pleased 

 with the Crested Tits, Parus cristatus, which we then had here, 

 but I have not observed them for four or five years past." In the 

 second letter he wrote, in reference to this species, " Curiously 

 enough, my son saw one twice on Saturday last, and I believe 

 I saw it myself on Sunday morning, but am not absolutely 

 certain." Colonel Morgan's house stands in Buckinghamshire, 

 close to the river Ouse, which there forms our county boundary, 

 and as the post town (Brackley) is in Northamptonshire, I 

 consider that I may fairly record this occurrence in these 

 notes. 



Nov. 14th. Thirty Wild Geese (sp. ?) seen flying over 

 Achurch in an easterly direction. Bramblings seen at Ticli- 

 marsh — first report of the species in our neighbourhood for 

 this season. 



Nov. 17th. Twenty-two Teal out of twenty-nine, and eighteen 

 Wild Ducks, out of about one hundred, were taken in our 

 decoy. 



Nov. 18th. My falconer wrote under this date: — "I have 

 seen eight Siskins and six Redpolls by the river (near Lilford) 

 last week. These are not nearly so plentiful as they were 

 last year." 



20th. A Great Grey Shrike, Lanius excuhitor, was picked 

 up dead near Aldwinkle by Lieut. -Colonel Irby. My son, 



