202 THE ZOOLOGIST, 



Sparrow-Hawk attacking a Common Buzzard. The hawk kept 

 stooping at the Buzzard, which appeared to turn on its back 

 and strike up at the hawk, uttering a loud squawk. Capt. Taylor, 

 who had a strong pair of field glasses, and was often within 

 thirty or forty yards of the birds, watched them for half-an-hour 

 and saw the hawk stoop nine or ten times. Once the birds were 

 so low that the Buzzard splashed into the water as the hawk 

 stooped, but curiously enough the Ducks on the water took no 

 notice, though they were right among them. Mr. Bose, of 

 North Aston Mill, had also seen the two birds, and spoke of the 

 size of the Buzzard, the first he had seen. Capt. Taylor said 

 there had been two or three hundred Duck on Bestmoor (about 

 seventy acres) daily for some weeks. 



26th. — Thrush sang again. A Grey Wagtail in a running 

 ditch at Wickham. 



28th. — Mistle-Thrush sang well, early. A few Song- 

 Thrushes singing ; we have had a few of them here all the 

 winter, but they have been silent a good deal. 



29th. — Mr. E. Colegrave told me he saw a Great Grey Shrike 

 at Bletchington about a fortnight ago. He got within six yards 

 of it, and said it was a beautifully clear grey specimen. 



30th. — Mistle-Thrushes sing beautifully now, from daylight 

 on ; but, as usual, not in the later afternoon. 



31st. — Larks sang a little. 



A cold frosty month (except the 9th and 10) until the 28th. 

 Some snow, but weather not severe. Very dry. Bain on ten 

 days ; *68 inches only. 



February 4th. — About 4 p.m. a flock of Geese flew over here, 

 going E. N. E. From their curious cackling cry I think they 

 might have been White-fronted Geese. They passed over the 

 Grove estate, and were then estimated at four hundred. Black- 

 bird sang again. 



6th. — First rain this month. 



14th. — Flock of about thirty Fieldfares on the wing. 



16th. — Chaffinches singing well ; an increase of old males 

 lately. 



25th. — Wood Pigeons cooed, the first noticed this winter. 



26th. — Garden primroses at their best now. Books building, 

 or playing at it. 



