Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 6 (1902).djvu/123

Rh mon Sandpipers at Hickling, the male of the latter mounting up into the air, and "singing" like a Redshank (Bird).

1st.—Twenty-four Sheld-Ducks at Cley (F.H. Barclay).

2nd.—Mr. S. Bligh observed a Woodchat at Framingham Earl fly down from a high fence and take a large insect, the size of a May-chaffer, which it was carrying in its bill when it passed him; the under parts were dull white, the back black and white, the scapular feathers looking perfectly white, as in a male, which it probably was. It is many years since a Woodchat has been identified in this county.

14th.—A Grey Crow shot at Cromer by Mr. Barclay, who discovered some game-eggs which it had evidently sucked close by. Another seen by him near the same place on Aug. 9th.

18th.—Mr. Southwell found the Terns at Wells quite as numerous a colony as usual—the result of protection—but the nests more scattered than last year. The dead bodies of a few young ones, however, were lying about, and some eggs had been drawn into a hole by rats. Two nests each contained the unusual number of four eggs, and in a third nest was a white egg with two normal ones, of which Mr. Corder obtained a good photograph.

29th.—Disturbed a Hawfinch† at my pea-rows, and was astonished at the harm it had done; but I believe that the Jays are also answerable.

30th.—A young Hawfinch† caught in a strawberry-net at Cranmer (Davey). This bird was reared, but, being put into the same cage as an old male, was so pecked that it died.

Cuckoo Notes.—On June 17th a young Cuckoo, perhaps four days old, and quite unable to see, and with the back cavity still visible, was found in a Hedge- Sparrow's nest at Keswick. One Hedge-Sparrow's egg still in the nest, and two naked nestlings dead on the edge of it. A few days afterwards another young Cuckoo was found about fifty yards from the first one, and that was also in a Hedge-Sparrow's nest, and between the two Cuckoos there might be a week's difference in age. Cuckoo No. 1, being put in a cage, had of course to be reared by hand, which was a laborious business, it being nearly six weeks old before it knew