28 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



But he justly remarks that the date seems unusually early, and 

 that the fact must not, of course, be taken as affording undoubted 

 proof of the occurrence of the species in Leicestershire. This 

 Eedpoll is not included in Mr. Browne's book. 



Twite, L.flavirostris. — A scarce Leicestershire,bird ; perhaps 

 more frequent in the Trent Valley than in other parts of the 

 county. A few were taken in September, this year, by bird- 

 catchers near the Soar mouth. 



Corn Bunting, Emberiza rustica. — Common in the Soar 

 Valley ; nowhere more so than in the Great Meadow at Lough- 

 borough. In spite of its being a resident bird, I look upon it as 

 a late breeder. 



Starling, Sturnus vulgaris. — Large numbers of foreign im- 

 migrants arrive, via the Trent Valley, about the same time as 

 the Fieldfares. 



Magpie, Pica rustica. — In North Leicestershire getting scarce. 

 I have frequently found nests in hedgerows nearly within reach, 

 but only when the leaves were fully out. I was particularly struck 

 by the number of Magpie's nests to be seen from the Midland 

 Railway when travelling from Leicester to Bugby in 1881. 



Hooded Crow, Corvus comix. — Common. Arrives in small 

 flocks in the Trent Valley during October. Frequents the margin 

 of the river, where it feeds on dead fish and other river-side 

 delicacies. 



Book, C.frugilegus. — Abundant. Few villages exist which do 

 not possess a rookery, some of them of ancient establishment. 

 There are two large rookeries near the centre of Loughborough. 



Jackdaw, C. monedula. — Abundant in the well-timbered parks. 

 The obelisk in Garendon is supported on its pedestal by four 

 stone balls ; in the space underneath is a Jackdaw's nest. 



Sky Lark, Alauda arvensis. — Large numbers of foreign-bred 

 birds reach Leicestershire via the Trent Valley in the autumn. 



Wood Lark, A. arborea. — I am assured that the Wood Lark 

 breeds near Loughborough, and have had eggs brought to me 

 referred to this species, but the evidence is not conclusive, to my 

 thinking. 



Swift, Cypselus apus.—A large colony existed in the town of 

 Loughborough, near Bedford Square, and on a summer evening 

 parties of six or seven could be seen careering along just over the 

 heads of passengers in the streets, filling the air with their shrill 



