ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 53 



keepers, and from my daughter-in-law, of a very large raptorial 

 bird seen near Aldwincle. The former informant stated that it 

 was " many sizes larger than the Kite," lege Harrier ; and the 

 latter, that it seemed to be fully as large in spread of wings as a 

 Heron. 16th. Four Wigeon on the decoy. 



19th. First report of Redwings ; four seen on Pilton. 



21st. I noticed a few Reed Warblers still lingering amongst 

 the osiers just below Lilford. 



24th. Mr. W. Tomalin reported a bird, that can hardly have 

 been other than Great Crested Grebe, as observed on the river 

 between Lilford and Oundle. 



26th. First report for the season of Golden Plover, seen by 

 my son near Aldwincle. 



30th. The only Corncrake killed on our shootings this year 

 was shot to-day on Achurch. 



October. 



1st. First Jack Snipe of season, killed in a piece of seed- 

 clover on Aldwincle. " Small flock of Fieldfares (first report) on 

 Sutton Heath."— H. H. S. 



3rd. First reports for the season of Merlin and Common Red- 

 polls, at Lilford. 



4th. First report of Bramblings near Lilford. 



13th. First report of Siskins, between Achurch and Thorpe. 



15th. One of our gamekeepers, a Highlander from Inverness- 

 shire, assured me that he this morning saw a large dark -coloured 

 Eagle fly over within 100 yards of him near Sudborough. Wood- 

 cocks (first reports of season) from Burghley and Glapthorn. 



18tb. A Little Auk, picked up yesterday at Luddington, was 

 brought to me alive, but dying. Another specimen of this 

 species was picked up near Stamford within a day or two of this 

 date. 



19th. An Eagle was seen flying over Oundle Wood by two 

 gamekeepers, and reported to me by the Rev. Ed. Moore, of 

 Benefield Rectory. 



22nd. A small flock of Wild Geese seen by my son on Achurch. 



27th. I received a stuffed specimen of Crossbill, in the green 

 plumage, from Mr. G. Bazeley, of Northampton, who informed 

 me that it was one of several that had been sent to him, killed 

 out of a large flock that had been haunting Harlestone Firs for 



