ORNITHOLOGY OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 95 



spring. When I first heard of this occurrence I was inclined to 

 think that the supposed Crossbills might in fact have been 

 Hawfinches, but Mr. Sylvester's letter of yesterday leaves no 

 shadow of a doubt as to the correct identification of the birds in 

 question. The Crossbill is, in my experience, exceedingly scarce 

 in this county at any season of the year, and up to this date no 

 suspicion even of its breeding in Northamptonshire has ever 

 come to my knowledge. 



24th. Our Swallows and House-Martins suddenly, and almost 

 entirely, disappeared from Lilford. 



25th. Three '' Sea-Gulls" and one " Sea-Swallow" reported 

 by the decoy-man. 



26th. A very considerable passage of Meadow-Pipits up our 

 valley, and some twenty Herring-Gulls passed over Lilford to the 

 south-west. Four Buzzards reported near Irchester by the 

 Eev. Henry H. Slater. 



30th. A solitary Golden Plover reported by the decoy-man. 



October. 



1st. I noticed a continuous passage of small parties of 

 Sky-Larks over our meadows near Lilford to the south, and 

 heard the first Brambling of the season. 



3rd. First Pochard of season on the decoy-pool. 



6th. I saw a Merlin near Achurch. 



8th. In ' The Field ' of this date Mr. W. Tomalin records the 

 finding of seven, and shooting of five, Quails near Great 

 Addington ; this species has of late years become exceedingly 

 scarce in this part of Northamptonshire. First record of Grey 

 Crows for the season. 



9th. Seventeen Wild Geese passed over Thorpe in a north- 

 easterly direction. 



11th. We saw the first Bedwings of the season — very 

 unusually late. 



12th. Considerable arrival of Fieldfares, and large travelling 

 flocks of Wood-Pigeons. 



14th. First report of Woodcock for the season on Clapton 

 manor. 



November. 



1st. My nephew reports an extraordinary assemblage of 

 Peewits on the meadows near Tichmarsh. 



