106 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Harrier nested at Ranworth Broad in 1878; and in May, 1881, 

 I saw one at Barton, which, from its tameness and the time of 

 the year, I supposed might be nesting. The boldness of the 

 Tawny Qwl when it has young is well known, and one which had 

 a nest in an old tree at Buckenham maintained this savage 

 character, and frightened so many people that it had to be got 

 rid of. First a signalman received a buffet, and lost his hat; then 

 the rector of the parish was attacked ; after this a man named 

 George lost his hat, which was picked up in a field some distance 

 away. A young lady was next attacked ; and another person had 

 to act on the defensive against this formidable aggressor three 

 times, the Owl seeming determined to fight him somehow. It is 

 extraordinary that the Tawny Owl still holds its own in small 

 numbers in this county in spite of the systematic persecution it 

 receives. I have lost two of my Teal ; but am glad to say the 

 Owls remain unmolested. I have never heard of either the 

 Short-eared or the Long-eared Owl showing such boldness in 

 the defence of their young ; but there are few more savage 

 birds than the Eagle Owl in confinement at such times; and 

 some years ago my man was near losing his eye, since when I 

 have had a basket helmet made for him. For a week in the 

 early part of May a Nutcracker frequented a plantation of tall 

 dark fir trees near Thetford, Mr. Thomas Baring's attention being 

 first drawn by its unusual croaking note ; but after a week the 

 bird disappeared, and was not seen again, fortunately escaping 

 the prowling gunners. The last occurred in 1888; but we have 

 never had one in the spring before, and only four altogether ; 

 and, for Lincolnshire, Mr. Cordeaux only mentions two. 



12th. — My nephew saw a Cuckoo fly past him in Northrepps 

 Avenue with what he distinctly perceived to be an egg in its 

 mouth, and close to where I had seen one searching for a nest 

 two days before. It is not often one has an opportunity of 

 verifying the habit now so well known. 



13th. — Mr. Pashley saw a Black Redstart. A pair of Common 

 Redstarts have built in a tub put up for Owls at a considerable 

 height from the ground. 



16th. — A pair of Bearded Tits on the same pond near Holt 

 where three were recorded last September, and where the reeds 

 have been allowed to grow up, which no doubt attracts them, as 





