210 the zoologist. 



December. 



4th. My Goshawk "Barbara" suddenly turned from a rabbit 

 that she had all but overtaken, and captured an" adventurous 

 Barn Owl that was taking its pleasure abroad in full daylight. 

 The falconer, to my regret, could not " make in" quickly enough 

 to save this ill-advised bird of night. 



8th. A very large flock of travelling Wood Pigeons passed 

 over the house here this morning in a southerly direction. 



12th. Lady Lilford reported having seen a large bird pass 

 the house this morning, hotly pursued by a number of Rooks. 

 From the description and circumstance, I feel convinced that 

 this was a Rough-legged Buzzard. 



30th. Several members of a shooting party, on my neighbour 

 Mr. Freeman's property at Clapton, assured me that "a Tern" 

 flew over their heads to-day. A fierce westerly gale sprang up 

 at sunset. 



I append a record of first appearances of vernal migrants in 

 our county for 1891, as reported to me on good authority. In 

 the instances in which there is no special locality noted the 

 observations were made at Lilford: — March 17th, Curlew; 24th, 

 Chiffchaff; 25th, Woodcock ; 26th, Wheatear (Duston) ; 29th, 

 Nightingale (Delapre). April 1st, Bank Martin; 10th, Redshank; 

 13th, Merlin; 14th, Swallow; 15th, Wryneck; 16th, Tree Pipit, 

 Green Sandpiper, Jack Snipe; 17th, House Martin, Willow 

 Wren; 18th, Redstart, Ray's Wagtail, Blackcap; 21st, Cuckoo; 

 26th, Whinchat; Whitethroat, Turtle Dove ; 29th, Lesser White- 

 throat, Sedge Warbler. May 1st, Common Sandpiper, Ring 

 Ouzel (Rothwell) ; 2nd, Corncrake ; 3rd, Spotted Flycatcher ; 

 5th, Wood Warbler; fith, Reed Warbler; 8th, Swift; 14th, Garden 

 Warbler, Nightjar; 18th, Red-backed Shrike ; 25th, Hobby. 







