THE ZOOLOGIST, 



THIRD SERIES. 





Vol. XV.] FEBRUARY, 1891. [No. J 70. 



NOTES on the ORNITHOLOGY of NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 

 By the Rt. Hon. Lord Lilford, F.L.S., F.Z.S. 



I continue my notes from Oct. 16, 1889 (Zool. 1889, p. 430); 

 for explanation of initials used, cf. Zool. Dec. 1888. 



October, 1889. 



19th. A Spotted Crake, taken in a snare at our decoy, was 

 brought to me alive and uninjured, and at once set at liberty. 



21st. Three Snipes snared at the decoy averaged only 3| oz. 

 in weight. 



23rd. About thirty-five Wigeon dropped into the decoy at 

 morning flight-time, and twenty-three of them were at once taken ; 

 these were all apparently young birds of the year. Mr. J. E. 

 Harting, who paid us a visit on this day, informed me that he 

 saw, from the train near Thorpe Station, a Spotted Crake at close 

 quarters, first swimming, and then fluttering across the water 

 towards the river-bank. He added that he could almost have 

 shot it from the carriage had he been prepared. 



25th. Three Geese and a continuous stream of Sky Larks 

 passing southwards. 



27th. Thirty Geese, and a small flock of Gulls, supposed to 

 be Kittiwakes (more likely Larus ridibundus) , reported to me as 

 passing southwards. 



28th. A few Teal are dropping in at the decoy and elsewhere ; 

 a Water Rail taken alive in a snare at the decoy, and placed in 



ZOOLOGIST. FEB. 1891. E 



