158 Anderson: Bird-Notes from Lea, near Gainsborough. 



The country I describe is all in the parish of Lea, in 

 Division 5 W. of Mr. Peacock's Map of Lincolnshire ; Knaith 

 and Stow are in District 6 W. The scientific names are mainly 

 in accordance with the B.O.U. List of British Birds. 



1899. 16th Jan. A great deal of water in Lea Great Marsh,, 

 and large flocks of Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) and a good 

 many Ducks, Mallards {Alias boschas). 



17th Jan. Some Redpolls (Linota riifescens) in alders at 

 Norbury Hill. 



25th Jan. Saw a fine pair of Hawfinches (Coccothraustes 

 vulgaris) in the garden. 



26th Jan. Heard the drumming- spring call of the Lesser 

 Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopus minor). 



27th Jan. More water out in the Marsh. A flock of Golden 

 Plovers (Charadrius pluvialis) and quantities of Duck feeding - . 



2nd Feb. Put a Jack Snipe (Limnocryptes gallinula) out of 

 a tussocky field in the Marsh. 



8th Feb. Watched a Tree Creeper (Certhia familiaris) and 

 noticed its loud, clear, wren-like song, which has remained 

 unnoticed in many ornithological, works. 



14th Feb. W T atched some Marsh Tits (Parus palustris) up 

 at Lea Wood. 



19th Feb. Saw three Bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrr/iula), a cock 

 and two hens, together. I have seen them several times before 

 — always tog-ether. 



21st Feb. Heard the Stock Doves (Columba cenas) cooing 

 for the first time. An old lady in Lea villag-e tells us that the 

 Ring- Dove's cry, instead of the familiar 'Take two cows, Taffy,' 

 says ' Grew peas, grew ! Two sticks on a boo (bough) ; other 

 birds lays five eggs, poor me only two.' Bad grammar, but 

 a bit of practical knowledge, all the same. 



25th Feb. Heard the Ring Dove (Columba palunibus) coo 

 for the first time. 



5th March. Pied Wagtail (Motacilla lugubris) arrived. 



10th March. Lapwings (Vanellus vanellus) paired, and Red- 

 shanks (Totanus calidris) arrived in the Marshes. 



1 2th March. Heard a Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) exactly 

 imitate the Lapwing's cry. • 



14th March. I watched a Missel Thrush (Turdus viscivorus) 

 drive a Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) away from its nest in a 

 Scotch fir. Its attack was most determined, and it struck at 

 the Daw in the air just like a Hawk, so that the feathers flew. 



Naturalist, 



