ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 91 



for some days, but could neither see an Owl upon it or flying 

 from it, although one was generally in a neighbouring tree ; so, 

 after some days, having my doubts of correct identification, 

 I told him to go up and examine the nest again, and if he found 

 the eggs cold to bring them with the nest to me : he did so. 

 The nest was, I think, the old cup of a Magpie's nest, to which 

 the Owls had added a flat outside border or rim of larch-twigs ; 

 the eggs were undoubtedly those of Asio otus, and I believe that 

 the injury to one of them, mentioned above, had been caused by 

 the teeth of a Squirrel. One— and occasionally both — of the 

 parent-birds remained in the immediate neighbourhood of their 

 nesting-place for some time, but I could not hear of their nesting 

 again. This is the first year in which I have positive proof of 

 the nesting of four species of my favourite birds in our county 

 in complete liberty. Three Partridges' eggs, first of season, 

 found to-day near Achurch. 



26th. Miss F. Wickham, who was staying with her brother 

 at Cotterstock, was kind enough to drive over and bring me a 

 very fine adult Gannet that had been picked up alive near War- 

 mington on the previous day, and died in the night. This bird 

 had no trace of any injury about it, and though poor in flesh was 

 by no means emaciated. The above is not the first occurrence 

 of the species in question in our county that has come to my 

 knowledge, but is the first Northamptonshire specimen that I 

 have seen, and a very valuable acquisition to my local collection. 

 I must not omit an expression of gratitude to Mr. J. Crisp, of 

 Elton, the finder of the bird, who at the request of Miss Wickham 

 most obligingly gave the bird to her for me. Three large gulls 

 reported as " passing northerly." 



30th. My Bitterns in the aviaries commenced " booming." 

 I may mention that a pair of these birds nested last spring in a 

 very small compartment in our court -yard, where they were 

 constantly exposed to the observation of frequent passers by; 

 four eggs were laid, and one bird sat very steadily, but without 

 result. 



May. 



1st. A Snipe was flushed from an old rushy gravel -pit on 

 Achurch, but in spite of diligent search the next day by the 

 falconer, no nest was found; however, on the 4th our butler 



