ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 51 



with this bird as distinct from the Curlew. This is a very unusual 

 time for the appearance of the Whimbrel in our district. I hear 

 of large numbers of Siskins in the alders near the river. 



15th. The Ruffs in the aviary are beginning to resume their 

 " shows." 



16th. Eight Whoopers were seen flying about Lilford by my 

 nephew, the falconer, and others. 



17th. The Whoopers above mentioned were seen upon the 

 river below Lilford, and subsequently on wing, by my two sisters 

 and niece, two of our guests, and a great many others, some of 

 whom reported the flock as consisting of nine birds. I received 

 from the Rev. W. Hopkinson, of Sutton Grange, near Wansford, 

 a female Ringed Plover in flesh, killed near Castor a day or two 

 ago. This species is by no means very uncommon at the seasons 

 of migration in our valley ; but this is the first freshly-killed 

 specimen that I have handled for at least thirty years. 



18th. A very clean specimen of an adult Greyhen was shot 

 upon the manor of Wigsthorpe this afternoon, and brought to me. 

 The shooter did not recognise the bird till he picked it up. I am 

 only acquainted with one previous occurrence of Blackgame in 

 Northamptonshire (see Zool. 1851, p. 3278). 



19th. The crop of a Wood Pigeon shot and examined to-day 

 contained forty-six horse-beans ; another, killed on the following 

 day, had a good handful of field-peas and a few elm-buds in the 

 receptacle just mentioned. 



20th. A Stock Dove sits upon two eggs in a hollow ash in our 

 deer-park. 



25th. Lord Huntly, writing yesterday, informed me that he 

 received a male Garganey alive a few days ago from the Borough 

 Fen decoy, where it was taken on 18th inst. 



26th. A Water Rail seen at the decoy. 



28th. Fifteen Wigeon seen upon the river below Lilford. 

 Many nests of Song Thrush and one or two of Blackbird, con- 

 taining eggs, have been reported to me during the last ten days. 



April. 



2nd. Peewits' eggs brought in for the first time this year. 



5th. One of our gamekeepers tells me that, while searching 

 for Peewits' eggs on Achurch meadows, he saw two Curlews, three 

 Snipes, and four Golden Plovers ; one of these last, as he declares, 



