4- 7 



NOTES on BIRDS. 



Iceland Falcon at Saxilby, near Lincoln. In December, early in 

 the month, there was shot at Saxilby, near Lincoln, by Dr. Rainbird, of 

 Saxilbv, a young female specimen of the Iceland Falcon {Falco islandus), 

 which is being- stuffed bv Mr. Nash, of Lincoln. This is an unusual 

 occurrence. It was probably brought south by some of the strong gales 

 which we have experienced as a variation to this hitherto abnormally mild 

 season. — J. Coxwav Walter, Langton Rectory, 22nd December 1900. 



Grey Phalarope and Purple Sandpiper at Kirton, near Boston. 

 A Grev Phalarope (Phalaropiis fulicarius) was shot in the marsh, near 

 Kirton, by Boston, on 9th November last, by Mr. YV. E. Parker, of 

 Lancashire. This is a verv unusual occurrence in Lincolnshire, only two of 

 these birds being known to have been shot in the last twenty years. 



The same gentleman shot in the same locality 011 19th November a 

 Purple Sandpiper (Tringa striata). This is not so uncommon a bird. — 

 J. Conway Walter, Langton Rectory, Horncastle, 22nd December 1900. 



Wild Swans, etc., near Gainsborough. Six wild Swans observed 

 to-dav (14th January 1901) on the flood water in the Great Marsh meadows, 

 Lea, Gainsborough. Most of the flood has subsided, but a large expanse 

 of water still remaining was black with Duck of various species, with 

 (I think) some Geese among them. The Swans, which I observed for some 

 time through a telescope, were all in mature plumage, with the exception 

 of one, which looked considerably darker in colour than its companions. 

 There were also large numbers of Gulls of various species on the dryer 

 ground, ami large flocks of Lapwings ( Vanellus vancuus). — MARGARET L. 

 Anderson, Lea Hall, Gainsborough, 14th January 1901. 



Long-eared Owls as Anglers. Mr. .1. Howsman pointed out to me 

 on the 29th March 1SS7 the nesl of a pair of Long-eared Owls (Asia 

 otus L. ). It was in a Scotch fir. just in the parish of Bottosford. near the race 

 of Messingham water mill (Nat. Hist. Div. 2). Hi- showed me their cast- 

 ings at the same lime, saying 'that the Owls catch the best fish when the 

 water wheel is not running. It you come back from the farm this way, and 

 get here at about five this evening, you will be in time to see them set to 

 work.' I did so. The wheel had hardly ceased to revolve before the Owls 

 left their tree and were in evidence. They knew their work, for they let 

 the water run off a little before they began to fish. The birds in turn would 

 swoop down into the shallow water, which was barely z l 2 in. deep, and 

 fly off with a fish — a Dace ( Leuciscus vulgaris Flem.) from three to five 

 inches in length generally — to the nest tree. Droves of Dace come up 

 the beck e^ch spring, but few. if anv. get above the mill dam. They have 

 many enemies as well as the Owls, and few can return to the river Trent. — 

 Max Peacock. Bottesford, 4th May 1900. 



North-W est Lindsey Bird Notes.— Tin- late David Hopkins, who 

 farmed Howsham Barf from 1845 to 1870, was a naturalist in a simple way, 

 and loved the birds and beasts to be found on or around his holding. He 

 left the following stuffed specimens behind him ; they are now in the 

 possession of his daughters at Brigg, having been moved just a year ago 

 from this parish. 



The following birds were obtained in Howsham Barf Wood or the Beck 

 below it : — Kite (Milvus milvus), Long-eared Owl (Asio otus), Blue Tit 

 {Parus cceruleus), Marsh Tit (P. pa/ustris), Great Tit (P. major). Long-tailed 

 Tit {Acredula caudata). Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus), Bullfinch (Pyr- 

 rhula pyrrhula), Chaffinch (Friugilla coelebs). Greenfinch (Ligurinus chloris), 

 Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis), Wren {Troglodytes troglodytes), Yellow- 

 hammer (Emberiza citrinella), Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Dipper 

 (ductus aquaticus), Dabchick (Podiceps fluviatilis), Black-headed Gull 

 (La)-us ridibundus), two Snipe (Galliuago caelestis), and a male and female 

 Reed Bunting (Emberiza scha??iiclus). 



As these specimens have been removed from this parish it is as well to 

 put them on record. The Kite and Dipper are valuable notes. — E. Adrian 

 Woodruffe-Peacock, Cadney, Brigg, 15th May 1900. 



Naturalist, 



