RAVEN SK Y-L ARK . 
95 
June, 1880, by Mr. Theodore Walker. I saw an immature bird, shot at Wistow 
Park, 20th May, 1885, the beak of which was yellowish-white, claws white, several 
of the toes barred with white, part of the head and chin white, as also several 
of the primaries and secondaries. 
In Eutland. — Resident and common, and, according to Mr. Horn, breeds 
in large numbers in Wardley Wood. 
RAVEX. Corvus corax, Linnaeus. 
Has not occurred for years. — IMr. Babington, writing in 1842 (Appendix 
‘Potter,’ p. 67), said: — “ Grenerally to be seen on Sharpley a few years since; 
still in Bradgate Park, as I learn from Mr. Bloxam,” bat Harley stated that 
the late Mr. Adams assured him that the Raven had entirely deserted Bradgate 
Park, and that the date of its occurrence at Sharpley Rocks was 26th Oct., 
1848. Mr. Macaulay reports one (‘Mid. Nat.,’ 1882, p. 64) shot at Saddington, 
many years since, by Mr. Johnson, whilst it was feeding on a portion of 
a Sheep that had been hung up in a plantation ; and another at Rothley in 
1881. This last is, however, an error, Mr. Macaulay’s informant being incom- 
petent to distinguish a Raven from a Carrion-Crow. IMessrs. C. and T. Adcock 
wrote me in 1888: — “Our grandfather, George Evans, told us that this bird 
used to breed regularly in Bradgate Park, and that when he was a boy (sixty- 
five years ago) he took the young and reared them, and on one occasion sold 
one to the old ‘ Three Crowns Inn ’ at the corner of Horsefair Street,” and Harley 
stated that a Raven reared its young at Garendon in 1825, which would bring 
it to about the same date. 
In Rutland. — Has not occurred for years. — Lord Gainsborough reports 
that Mr. J. JMontague recorded it at Normanton in 1840, and the late Mr. 
Widdowson wrote me that Mr. John Brown, of Oakham, had one or two taken 
out of a nest at Cottesmore “Park” (? Wood) some years ago, — an indefinite 
date, which probably refers back to about the time of Mr. Montague’s note. 
Section OSCINES-SCUTELLIPLANTARES. 
Family ALAUDIDA^. 
SKY-LARK. Alauda arvensis, Linnmus. 
Resident and common ; breeding in fields close to the town of Leicester. 
Packs in flocks of many hundreds in winter, but, in severe seasons, appears to 
leave the Midlands, probably withdrawing farther south. 
iMr. Davenport writes : — “ Nests as early as the middle of March.” 
The IMuseum Donation-book records a black variety from JBelgrave, 31st 
March, 1860 (probably fed on hemp seed). 
In Rutland.— Resident and common. 
