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BIRDS OF LEICESTERSHIRE AKD RUTLAND. 
birds dashed against the Eectory window at Bottesford, and were captured and 
afterwards liberated.” Elkington reported several from the vicinity of Leicester 
during the winter of 1884-5. I have repeatedly observed specimens on the 
brook at Knighton, and on the Soar at Aylestone. 
It has, I believe, bred at Blaby, Bosworth, Bradgate, Desford, Stapleford 
Park, etc.; and, on 22nd May, 1885, Master George Snoad presented to the 
Museum four fresh eggs— being part of a clutch of nine, — taken from a hole 
in a clay-bank by a little pond close to the Aylestone Eoad, at some distance 
from the river. The eggs, laid upon fish-bones, were, before being blown, of a 
delicate pink hue. 
In Eutland. — As in Leicestershire. — Mr. Horn informs me that it builds 
in the banks of the Eye every year, and that in 1887 he knew of two nests — 
one near Allexton JMill and the other at Stoke Dry. 
Family U P U P I D ^ . 
HOOPOE. Upupa epops, Linnaeus. 
A rare spring and autumn visitant. — The first notice I can find of this 
bird is contained in a letter from Mr. Sebastian Evans, of South Kensington, 
to his friend, the late Eev. Churchill Babington, who obligingly handed it to me. 
He wrote : — “ The Hoopoe which was in the possession of T. Cope, Esq., at 
Osbaston Hall, was shot in 1828, at, I think, Nailstone, which comes just within 
your district.” The catalogue of the contents of the jMuseum, when handed over 
by the Literary and Philosophical Society to the Corporation of Leicester on 19th 
June, 1849, recorded : — “ 1 Upupa epops, shot in Leicestershire.” Harley wrote : — 
“ This species has occurred in the county in immature plumage, a fine example 
having been shot in the lordship of Stapleton on September 15th, 1851.” This 
was presented by him to the Museum, where it is still preserved (1889). He 
further recorded : — “ It is said to have occurred also at Bradgate Park, and near 
Lutterworth.” The Museum Donation-book records the presentation, on 26th 
June, 1867, by Mr. C. Burdett, of another example (still in existence) “shot in 
the county of Leicester.” I saw, at Elkington’s, a very fine one, apparently a 
male, of a deep buffy-pink and pure white and black, resembling the most 
richly-coloured South European specimens (of which I have shot many). It had 
only been that day set up, and was shot at Great Peatling on 11th May, 1883, 
by Master Hall of that place. IMr. W. A. Vice, IM.B., has told me since then 
that another was in its company. 
In Eutland. — As in Leicestershire. — Lord Gainsborough writes me ; — “ One 
killed in a turniji-field at Tickencote in 1838, by Jakes, keeper to J. Wingfield, 
Esq., and now in the possession of Miss Wingfield ; and one at Burley, in 1880, 
by C. Masters, keeper to G. Finch, Esq.” I have seen a nice specimen in his 
Lordship’s possession, shot at Cottesmore by Mr. Clayton’s gardener, on 29th May, 
