A VISIT TO THORNDON PARK. 
123 
As we reach a lake in the park, we notice a family of moorhens 
disporting themselves on the water, and a pair of summer snipe 
are paddling about on the edges ; wood-pigeons are to be seen 
on all sides, and a beautiful specimen of the lapwing or peewit 
plover is diligently searching for food amongst the moist grass 
near the lake. I never see a peewit but what I think of the value 
these birds are to the agriculturist, they should have every pro¬ 
tection afforded them, for they destroy large number of such 
pests as the wireworm, turnip fly, etc. Another interesting sight 
here is that of the squirrels gambolling in the tree branches, 
these in one instance have approached too near the nest of some 
starlings, and the old birds are flying around with much fuss 
and chattering On the trunk of this very tree we also observe 
a small bird, evidently a tree creeper, which keeps pecking away 
at the bark for insects. Chaffinches are very plentiful as is also 
the beautiful little yellow-hammer. Some half-dozen examples 
of that summer visitor the red-backed shrike are seen during the 
day and one of these birds rises from the ground with what looks 
like a small field-mouse in its beak. One pair of bullfinches are 
observed in this park ; they are more numerous in the neighbour¬ 
ing gardens and orchards. 
Of the magpie, jay, or any of the hawk tribe we see none for 
game preserving is carried on here. Rooks are very common 
and many of the active and lively jackdaws are about; they evi¬ 
dently nest in the adjacent church towers, etc. There is no mis¬ 
taking the jackdaw with its shrill voice and partly grey mantle. 
In the company of the sheep and lambs are several of those 
nimble and handsome birds, the wagtails; these are busy snap¬ 
ping up the flies that are worrying the animals. The notes of the 
cuckoo and the cooing of the doves are to be heard here all the live¬ 
long day and as theduskofeveningapproachesthe hares leave their 
“forms” for their feed, the blackbirds and the thrushes whistle 
their love songs to their mates, partridges are calling one another 
and after dark the nightingale may be heard pouring forth his 
notes. 
“ Who does not love to catch his thrilling notes and listen with delight, ” 
Before taking leave of this beautiful spot I must not forget to 
mention that a herd of deer may be seen at the private end of 
the park.—A. F. Gates. 
RECORDS AND OBSERVATIONS. 
MAMMALS. 
Curious variety of the brown rat .—On Tuesday last (January 2nd) a local 
rat-catcher showed me a male rat which he had just caught in this neighbour¬ 
hood. It was of a nut-brown colour, similar to that of a squirrel, and turned 
the scale at a pound.— A, F, Gates, Stratford, e. 
