258 Ornithological Notes, by Valentine Knight, Esq. 



estates under his charge, he advocated long and liberal leases, 

 the thorough drainage of land, and the erection of well-arranged 

 farm buildings, and commodious cottages. He identified himself 

 with every movement in Bedfordshire, which had for its object 

 the benefit of agriculture. He advocated very strongly the erec- 

 tion of the county school ; one of the last acts of his life being a 

 gift of £600, to be invested for scholarships ; and he also left a 

 legacy of £1,000 to that institution. 



In 1551-2, the inhabitants of Alnmouth, Lesbury, and Hawk- 

 hill, participated with the people of Alnwick, and its vicinity, in 

 maintaining their proportion of the Border watches. It was or- 

 dained that " from Chrystofer Armorers to Sheple-gate (Shipley- 

 gate) was to be watched nightly with fourteen men of the inhabi- 

 tors of LongJioutton, Elmouthe, Zesberry, Aukle, Denyke, Broxfeld, 

 Ekle (Heckley), Berne yardes, JBelyzate, Cany-gate, and Walker- 

 gate." The setters and searches of these watches were, "the 

 keepers of the west parks of Anwyke, and Sail (Hulne)-^«r£\" 

 Bylton and Trodden were grouped separately with " Whyttell, 

 Shelbottell, Over-boston, Nether-boston-grange, and Berling,'''' to 

 watch from " Hodge-croft to Bong-hole ;" the setters and searchers 

 being " Bughle and Snepe-house."* — J. H. 



* Nicolson's Border Laws, pp. 197, 198. 



Ornithological Notes. By Valentine Knight, Esq., Kelso. 



Hooded Crow (Corvus Comix). — On the 28th of May last, be- 

 tween Bamburgh and Waren Mills, on the links bordering the 

 coast, I twice started a Hooded Crow, the bird rising on both 

 occasions within easy shot. This is considerably later than the 

 usual time of its vernal migration ; indeed Col. Montagu says it 

 " retires northward to breed in the beginning of April ;" Steven- 

 son says " it leaves by the end of March or beginning of April ;" 

 possibly, as in a few isolated instances on record, this bird may 

 have picked up a black mate, either a variety of its own, or the 

 allied species Corvus Corone, which some ornithologists say it 

 interbreeds with. Such is the similarity in appearance in these 

 two birds — colour excepted, and in some respect in their habits — 



