60 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



there to-day, and found four Titlarks' nests, one with four eggs. 

 Not hitherto found breeding in this county, I believe. 



4th. Lesser Whitethroat building in my garden. A Jay's 

 nest with three eggs. Not a single Wood Wren to be heard any- 

 where about here this year. Since the growing up of the under- 

 wood in three or four of our woods they seem to have left the 

 neighbourhood. We shot the first young Books. There are 

 more Nightingales, I think, than usual. 



May 26th to Aug. 16th. (Absent). 



Aug. 16th. My man tells me that the Hawfinches have been 

 more numerous in the garden, and more tiresome, than in any 

 previous year we have been here. 



17th. A Nuthatch in my garden. I have seen a few at times 

 in the Bedford Purlieus, but none in my garden, and have often 

 wondered why. 



19th. Capt. Vipan tells me that there have been fewer 

 Nightjars than usual in the Purlieus, and that the Grasshopper 

 Warblers, which we found common on their first arrival, got 

 scarce in breeding-time ; it seems difficult to understand why, 

 This bird escapes attention more than most others because of its 

 shyness, and perhaps because few are acquainted with its note ; in 

 some cases I have found people sceptical as to its being the note 

 of a bird at all. But I have found it in all parts of the county, 

 though less abundant towards the south-west. 



26th. I received from Irchester a common Sandpiper, shot on 

 migration near Chester House. I have seen a good many in the 

 Nen Valley, both in spring and autumn, but do not recollect 

 having handled one in the county. 



28th. I know of three Wood Pigeons' nests with eggs. Two 

 are in the Purlieus; one in the chuchyard near my house, to 

 which my attention was directed by seeing the bird carrying 

 sticks. 



Sept. 6. A Chiffchaff in song in my garden. We see the Nut- 

 hatches every day here now. 



6th to 13th. The above Chiffchaff, or another like him, 

 stayed on the premises, and sang on every fine day. On the LOth 

 a Willow Wren also singing. On the 11th both Chiffchaff and 

 Willow Wren sang, and, to my surprise, a Garden Warbler also 

 (at which I had a good look) was singing for a short time. 



20th. Chiffchaff again. 



