Peacock: Line. Naturalists at Somercoles and Saltfleetby. 77 



Both species are very noisy, and resented the intrusion on their 

 nesting- quarters, dashing to and fro and winnowing- the air with 

 rapid beats of their wings, and uttering- all the time tremulous 

 cries of disapproval. The Redshanks fly in a curious fashion, 

 suspending- their wings at right angles to the body, that is, 

 pointing directly downwards. Both species had young on the 

 ground, hence this distressful clamour. We found a somewhat 

 elevated nest of the Lapwing made of dead bents, with four eggs 

 placed point to point. We were much pleased to see two pair 

 of the Common Sandpiper, and from their actions evidently 

 nesting birds. On 16th June 1890, the Rev. C. W. Whistler, 

 formerly of Theddlethorpe, an excellent naturalist, and one of the 

 first members of our Society, was fortunate in discovering two 

 nests of this species in the same locality, and this was the first 

 record of the Common Sandpiper nesting anywhere in the eastern 

 counties south of the Humber (Zool., 1893, p. 304). The present 

 occurrence, therefore, in the same district in the summer of this 

 year is particularly interesting. Other birds seen were Kestrels, 

 Carrion Crow, Mistletoe Thrushes, both old and young being 

 numerous on the commons and warrens ; Blackbirds in numbers 

 in the thickets of sallow thorn ; Common and Red-legged 

 Partridge, the latter predominating ; Meadow Pipits, Linnets, 

 Corn-Buntings, Reed-Buntings, Whinchat, Whitethroat, Coal- 

 Tit and young. Feathers of Mallard were found on the Haven 

 bank ; an egg of the Cuckoo in Linnet's nest; and dropped eggs 

 of the Meadow Pipit and Mistletoe Thrush. 



We will add the following note : — During the last week 

 (9th June). a very large bird of prey, like a gigantic Sparrow 

 Hawk, has on two occasions crossed the garden of Great Cotes, 

 the last being on the morning of 9th June, when in company with 

 the Revs. E. Adrian Woodruffe-Peacock and Alfred Thornley. 

 Its large size, short rounded wings, long tail, and rapid and 

 steady flight, were all suggestive of the female Goshawk, a very, 

 very, rare bird now to see in England. In the last forty years we 

 have only seen it alive on two occasions in the Humber district. 



The Rev. A. Thornley, M.A., F.L.S., F.E.S., reports the 

 Entomology as follows: Owing to the kindness of our lost 

 friend Mr. John Cordeaux, I was able, with the assistance ol 

 the Rev. E. A. Woodruffe-Peacock, to enjoy a ramble on the 

 preceding day in the Freshney Bog at Great Cotes. Unfor- 

 tunately, the sun became obscured, the temperature tan down, 

 and a most promising day was rather spoilt. Nevertheless, 

 three or four hours' hard work furnished a lot of material which 



1900 March b. 



