ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMP TONSHIRU. 53 



one Teal were still lingering on the river near Elton, and that a 

 few Fieldfares were still thereabouts. 



May. 



2nd. A large diving bird, reported to me by Mr. F. Hodgson, 

 and one of the gamekeepers, as seen on the river near Achurch, 

 could only be Great Crested Grebe. 



4th. Whilst out with the Bucks Otter hounds to-day, I saw 

 three Redshanks in Achurch meadow ; these birds flew around at 

 a great height when disturbed by the hounds, and were very 

 clamorous, evidently having eggs or young in the meadow-grass. 



6th. The falconer reported finding a nest of the Common 

 Heron ready for eggs in a small spinney on Braunsea Brook, near 

 Aldwincle. 



20th. On revisiting the Herons' nest above mentioned to-day> 

 the falconer found that it had evidently been robbed by some 

 human thief. I have little doubt that the cause of a pair of 

 Herons' selection of this spot for building was the destruction of 

 many of the nest-bearing trees in the Heronry at Milton, by the 

 disastrous hurricane of March 24th ult. 



27th. A nest of Common Flycatcher, containing three eggs, 

 and built in a cylindrical cement-tin, about three parts full, was 

 brought in to me. The tin in question was on a shelf in a 

 temporary shed, constantly occupied by masons employed in 

 repairs to our stone-work about the house, damaged by the hurri- 

 cane of March 24th ult. The Flycatchers eventually took off a 

 brood of four young birds in safety, in spite of having had their 

 nest continually brought out of the shed for exhibition. I was 

 out with the Otter Hounds again to-day, and found the three 

 Redshanks still about Achurch meadow, in a frantic state of 

 excitement, but the grass was too long and strong to allow of a 

 search for the young birds that were certainly not far off. This 

 is the first proof positive that I ever had of the breeding of Red- 

 shanks upon my own property in this county. Our meadows seem 

 to be unusually full of Corncrakes. 



June. 

 8th. A pair of Great Tits have a brood of young in a large 

 circular leathern Indian bottle, with very small orifice, suspended 

 at about 3 J feet from the ground, in a cedar in our flower-garden; 

 a brood of Redstarts were hatched out in this bottle last year. 



