ornithology of northamptonshire. 93 



June. 



1st. My friend Mr. Charlton, of Geddington, informed me 

 that he had very recently found a nest of the Common Sandpiper, 

 containing eggs, near that place. Although this bird is common 

 with us on both passages, and I have good previous evidence of 

 its breeding in our county, the present is the first record of the 

 finding of its eggs therein that has hitherto reached me (cf, Zool. 

 1891, p. 47). 



2nd. First record of the Hobby this season, seen close to the 

 house at Lilford ; another, or perhaps the same individual, was 

 seen soaring over our court-yard, on 15th inst., by the falconer 

 and a lady to whom he was showing my living collection ; their 

 attention was called to this little falcon by the skyward gaze of 

 Eagles, Kites, and other of my captive raptorial birds. 



July. 



1st. A wild Peregrine was "toying" in the air with three 

 youngsters of the same species that are "at hack" in front of 

 the house at Lilford. 



9th. I was informed by the Wadenhoe gamekeeper that a few 

 days ago one of the tenant farmers on that manor was attacked 

 from behind, and had his hat knocked off by a Little Owl as he 

 passed close to the nesting-place mentioned above (cf, supra 

 April 19th). 



19th. I received a moulting Dunlin, in the flesh, killed 

 yesterday at a pond in the manor of Clapton. I need hardly 

 say that this is a very unusual time for the occurrence of this 

 species in our district. 



25th. A vast congregation of Bank-Martins about the river 

 near Lilford. 



August. 



1st. A solitary Wigeon dropped on to the decoy-pool. 



3rd. I noticed a Tern that from its size must, I think, have 

 been either a Sandwich or Gull-billed Tern, passing southwards 

 up our valley at a great height. I am positive that this bird 

 was neither a Common nor an Arctic Tern, but it was too far from 

 me for certain identification. 



4th. One Teal at the decoy. 



6th. A solitary female Shoveller at the decoy. 



