98 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



an awkward morsel to swallow) and three small pieces of pottery, 

 one of a blue colour, recalling to mind New Zealand Moa stones 

 (see the coloured figure in * The Ornithological Miscellany,' 

 vol. iii. p. 240), which were sometimes of a bluish hue. The last 

 occurrence of the Great Bustard was on Jan. 19th, 1891, when 

 six others were killed in different parts of England, and, like this 

 one, were all females. 



4th. Signs of spring. My Eagle Owls both received their 

 master with many loud snaps, which always indicates the nesting 

 impulse, and both sexes scrape holes the first fine spell of weather 

 which comes after January. This snapping noise is caused by 

 the withdrawal, not the meeting, of the mandibles, but the action 

 is so rapid that it is very difficult for the eye to follow it. The 

 24th of March is about the time these Owls usually lay their 

 first egg, and incubation lasts about thirty-six days, the old bird 

 beginning to sit directly the first egg is laid. On a fine day she 

 will leave her young ones, when about a week old, to the warmth 

 of the sun, but will run along the ground to them if anybody goes 

 into the cage. She is so savage at this time that the intruder will 

 stand a very good chance of getting a blow on the head or neck 

 from those sharp talons. My father reared a good many Eagle 

 Owls, but his success was as nothing compared with that of Mr. 

 Meade Waldo, who reared ninety from one female bird. 



10th. The White-shouldered Eagles, Aquila adalberti, Brehm, 

 brought from Spain in 1872 by Lord Lilford, and given by him 

 to my father, being supplied with boughs, for the first time made 

 a nest, but no eggs were laid. They are fond of eating those of 

 other birds when given to them. 



March. 



This month was fine, warm, and dry. On the 4th two 

 vinous-breasted Bock Pipits, of Scandinavian origin (Anthus 

 rupesti'is, Nils.), both males, were shot at Cley by Mr. E. Raram. 

 This well-marked race never occurs on our coast in any month 

 except March, at which time, like the Black Redstart to be next 

 mentioned, it migrates eastwards, towards Denmark. 



23rd. A Black Redstart at Framingham ; during this month 

 Black Redstarts were also seen at Yarmouth, and others were 

 reported in South Yorkshire and in Kent. 



