214 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



11th. A nest of Little Grebe found near Achurch, containing 

 three eggs. I merely record this because, although this bird may 

 be considered as abundant here during the winter months, this is 

 the first occupied nest hitherto found in this neighbourhood, to 

 my knowledge. A pair of Kingfishers nesting near Lilford. 

 I much regret to add that some thief subsequently dug out and 

 stole the eggs of this pair. Whimbrel and Redshank seen near 

 our decoy. 



14th. Lieut.-Col. C. I. Strong visited the heronry at Milton 

 to-day, and informed me that he and his daughters counted about 

 130 nests, not, however, all occupied. Many young Herons could 

 fly well, but some were still in the nests. 



21st. First Partridge's eggs of season found. 



28th. Many Fieldfares have been reported to me during the 

 last ten days, and a very fine specimen was killed to-day. 



29th. A female Starling in the aviary has paired with what 

 (for want of a better name) I must call a Sardinian Starling, 

 Sturnus unicolor. These birds have a nest and several eggs in a 

 nesting-box. 



30th. Well-feathered young Long-tailed Tits in a nest near 

 the aviary. 



May. 



2nd. A female White-fronted Goose, paired with Bean gander, 

 has four eggs at aviary-pond. Pochard sits upon six eggs at 

 park-pond. An occupied nest of Barred Woodpecker was dis- 

 covered in an old hawthorn-bush near Lilford. I am glad to add 

 that a brood of five or six were safely reared and took wing from 

 this nest. 



4th. I received a letter from Mr. W. J. Horn, in which he 

 assures me that he positively identified a Grey-backed Wagtail, 

 Motacilla alba, at Kingsthorpe, on 30th ult. A very fine adult 

 Gannet was brought to me by one Tilley, who informed me that 

 it was caught by his dog on the roadside near Stanion on March 

 4th ult. ; he stated that it was alive and in fair condition, and 

 that he would not have killed it, " only I thought it was a Hern- 

 shaw!" He sent the bird to be stuffed at Kettering by Mr. H. 

 Field, who had informed me of the occurrence in March last. 



13th. A nest of Little Owl in hollow ash-tree in the park 

 contained several young. 



