56 WHITLOCK : BIRD-NOTES FROM THE MID-TRENT VALLEY. 
* 
Swallow. Hirundo rustica. At dusk, on 13th October, a flock 
of about thirty-five Swallows passed over to north-east. 
Redwing. Turdus iliacus. On 15th October, with light E. to 
N.E. winds and drizzling rain,a many Redwings were to be 
heard passing to south-west. They were accompanied at 
times by some larger birds; from the whistling of the wings, 
the latter were probably ducks. 
Peregrine. Falco peregrinus. A young female example of 
this species was shot near Normanton-on-the-Wolds about 
November sth. It was erroneously recorded in a local. 
newspaper as a Honey-buzzard. On December tst I was 
watching a large flock of Lapwings which, for some cause or 
other, were very restless. ‘They had reason to be; for I soon 
detected the presence of two fine Peregrines which swooped 
down into the flock, scattering them in all directions. | They, 
however, collected themselves together again and rose to a great 
height. Meanwhile, one of the Peregrines had attacked one of 
a pair of Redshanks which were accompanying the Lapwings. 
Both pursuer and pursued passed close to where I was standing 
and presently rose to a great height. The Falcon easily overtook 
the Redshank in fair flight, but the latter avoided the stroke 
by the rapidity with which it turned. I cannot say what was the — 
end of the affair, but I rather think the Falcon was successful, — 
as I saw a single Redshank in company with a large flock of © 
Golden Plovers (Charadrius pluvialis) later on. The Redshankis — 
very scarce here in winter. But to return to the Falcons. Soon — 
after the above incident the pursuer rejoined its mate, and both — 
commenced an attack on a party of Hooded Crows. About 
twelve of the latter were sheltering in a small ash-tree. One of | 
the Falcons would buffet a Crow out, then both would follow — 
up the attack, but immediately two or more of the Crows — : 
| 
aad 
SF a = 
ee 
aa as 
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would fly out to the help of their comrade, until the Falcons a 
gave up the attempt. These birds appeared to be male and 
female. The former an old bird with blue-grey back. A note 
one of them uttered was like ‘hek-hek.’ : | 
Hooded Crow. Corvus cornix. This crow was common both — | 
in spring and autumn. They are very fond of the watel, — 
frequently taking a bath and looking like huge Wagtails as they — 
wade into shallow pools left by floods. q 
Tree Sparrow. Passer montanus. One of two specimens; 7 
shot for a friend, had a anes tinge of grey-brown in the = 
chestnut colour of the cro 
———a 2 
Naturalist 
