MlSCEltANEA. 29 



■winter, or do they succumb more easily to the severity of the 

 "weather ? 



The only Thrush seen was too shy to feed with the other birds 

 and was found dead in the garden, where it had dropped from a 

 tree, no doubt starved with hunger and cold. 



A Blackbird became quite crippled, the claws of one foot being 

 doubled under, probably its foot had been frozen ; this however 

 did not prevent it from coming as usual upon its one leg, for the 

 other for some time was useless. 



One day the Cat killed and left a Sparrow. In a very short 

 time a Great Titmouse seized upon it, and making a hole under 

 one of its wings, drew out and devoured its entrails; in two days 

 it completely finished the carcass. 



Some Jays also favoured us with their company occasionally ; 

 these birds are by no means scarce in the Chop well "Woods. 



Por the first time in fourteen years a Magpie was seen near 

 the house ; these birds are rather rare in the Derwent Valley, 

 but they may occasionally be seen in the neighbourhood of Ham- 

 sterley and Chopwell Woods. There is little doubt that they and 

 the Jays have suffered severely from the folly and ignorance of 

 gamekeepers. 



The winter previous to the last, the neighbourhood of the 

 house was much frequented by a Sparrow Hawk which became 

 very daring, and upon more than one occasion carried off a Spar- 

 row while feeding within two yards of the window. It occa- 

 sionally varied its meal by taking one of my pigeons. 



Both the Blue and Cole Titmice were seen to fly away with 

 small grains of maize with which the Pigeons were fed. 



In the early winter we had "Wrens but they soon disappeared 

 and have not been seen since. 



"Upon the 25th of February.^ Thrush was heard attempting to 

 sing, but has not been heard since ; during the winter these 

 birds appear to have almost entirely left the district. 



Until two years ago Starlings were abundant, and bred fi-eely 

 about the house and in the trees adjoining, but recently they 

 have been scarce ; one appeared on the 26th of March as if to 

 survey its old nesting place. 



