ORNITH0I.00ICAL NOTES. 



129 



Occurrence of the Bar-tailed Oodtoil, (Limosa rufa,) in Suffolk. — I shot on 

 tho 18th. of October, a fine male specimen of this bird on Lowestoff beach. 

 This is not a very common bird cither in Norfolk or Suffolk. 



Note on the Book, (Corvus frugilegus.) — There are various opinions respecting 

 the tuberculous growth, or abrasion as it is called, at the base of the bill of 

 this bird. Is it natural or caused by abrasion — by many it is thought the 

 latter. Mr. Macgillivray states in his work on "British Birds/' vol. 1, page 

 551, ^^It is only after the young have been abroad for some weeks that these 

 parts become to be abraded, leading to the supposition that it is the result 

 of digging with its bill in exploring for provender." This gentleman, to 

 whom I feel greatly indebted for valuable information from the pages of his 

 work, is very rarely wrong; probably I may have put a wrong construction upon 

 his statement, if so I plead his pardon. The Rev. F. 0. Morris, in his work 

 now publishing, (which I trust will find its way into the hands of every 

 inquiring ornithologist,) gives it as his opinion that it is natural and not^caused 

 by abrasion. To confirm the latter gentleman's opinions, I forward the 

 particulars copied from my Journal. I kept one of these birds, several years 

 back, which I obtained when fully- fledged and confined it in a room with some 

 Brown Owls. When first it came into my possession the base of the bill and 

 nostrils were covered with stiff" feathers. After having it for six weeks the 

 feathers were replaced by an early development of this so-called abrasion, 

 inclining to a dirty flesh-colour; but after keeping it for twelve months I was 

 obliged to destroy it for its quarrelsome disposition. At that time there was 

 a full development of this tuberculous growth; the bird never having left 

 its place of confinement. The accompanying engraving is a figure of the skull 

 now in my possession, with the horny covering of the mandibles and tuberculous 

 growth left on. 



Occurrence of the Great Snipe, (Scolopax major,) in Nmfolk. — I shot on 

 November Gth., at Rockland, a specimen of this bird. I had never been 

 ablp to procure a specimen before, therefore I think it rather uncommon. 

 Mr. Yarrell states in vol. 3, page 19, that it is not uncommon in autumn 

 in Norfolk. 



VOL. II. s 



