50 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



12th. The frost resumed its severity, 25 degrees were registered 

 before daylight this morning. Stock Doves evidently pairing 

 and very clamorous. 



13th. Sky Larks coming into the kitchen-garden at Aldwincle, 

 in large numbers : 23 degrees of frost. 



15th. Our gunners killed five Mallard and a Wigeon up the 

 river, and report the three Swans (see 11th inst., supra) as hanging 

 about the Aldwincle meadows. 



16th. I received from Mr. G. Bazeley an immature Bed- 

 throated Diver in flesh, killed yesterday close to Northampton. 

 Two Bramblings in flesh received from the station-master at 

 Ditchford, L.N.W.R., with an enquiry as to what they are. 



21st. I received a female Scaup alive from the Borough Fen 

 decoy, near Peakirk. 



23rd. My son reported a large flock of Stock Doves on Pilton, 

 with a Peregrine in close attendance upon them. Hedgesparrows 

 in full song. 



25th. Several large Gulls flying over Lilford, and very noisy. 



27th. My son reported a single Peewit, the first seen for many 

 weeks in the neighbourhood, on a meadow below Lilford. 



28th. I saw from my up-stairs window an adult Mute Swan 

 on the river below our stone bridge. I note this, because none 

 of these birds are kept within a considerable distance of our 

 house. Twenty Golden Plovers were seen below Lilford, and 

 small flocks of Peewits in our upper meadows. 



March. 



2nd. The crops of several Wood Pigeons killed yesterday 

 and to-day were fully and almost exclusively crammed with leaves 

 of the Lesser Celandine. 



6th. The falconer tells me that he heard the jarring of Little 

 Spotted Woodpecker about ten days ago for the first time this 

 year ; also that the Song Thrushes have been in full song for 

 some days past. Mr. W. Bazeley, writing yesterday, tells me that 

 he has a Little Owl, shot near Northampton, in his hands for 

 preservation ; he cautiously avoids giving me the name of the 

 murderer of this bird, who, if the bird was killed since 1st inst., 

 is liable to a penalty of £1. 



8th. A Whimbrel was seen and heard to-day, and on 11th inst., 

 near our decoy, by the decoy-n,an, who is perfectly acquainted 



