AXD NEIGHBOURHOOD. 



213 



as an irregular, but not uncommon, autumnal visitor. 

 Amongst the more recent occurrences of the Shag 

 in Northamptonshire that have come to my know- 

 ledge I note the following from my journals : — an 

 immature bird caught upon the tower of Arthingworth 

 Church on August 31, 1879, and sent to me alive 

 shortly afterwards ; another shot from the chimney 

 (175 feet high) of the Gayton Brick-works on 

 December 2 of the same year, recorded by Mr. W. 



Tomalin in the ' Field ' ; a third brought down with 

 a broken wing from a great height by Mr. Birch near 

 Cranford late in August 1884, and brought to me 

 alive by Mr, Wirley Birch on September 1st ; this 

 bird lived on our ponds here till December 14, 1888, 

 when it was found drowned under the ice with a 

 large roach in its gullet ; the poor bird was in moult 

 at the time of its death, but had nearly acquired 

 its full adult dress, and is now one of the most 



