MISCELLANEOUS NOTICES. 



165 



than the outer ; claws, slender. Wings, moderate, — slightly pointed. Tail, 

 ample, rounded, composed of twelve feathers. Sp. JSdon galactodes, Temm. 

 — Male : Irides ? Bill, brown, — yellowish near the base and edges of the 

 lower mandible; legs and feet, yellowish-brown. Above, bright reddish- 

 gray ; from the bill to the eye extends a brown band ; superciliaiy stripe, 

 white, slightly reddish ; wings, bright brown, — the feathers edged and tip- 

 ped with reddish; tail-feathers, bright chesnut, each with a large black 

 spot near the end, — the outermost feathers on each side terminated with 

 pure white, the others with reddish-white. Beneath, light Isabella colour ; 

 sides of the neck, bi-east, and flanks, tinged with reddish. Length, 6J inches. 

 Female: Not well known. Described as follows: Above, brown; rump and 

 tail, chesnut ; wing-feathers and two middle tail-feathers, cinereous ; the 

 spots at the extremity of the tail are wider, and of a blackish-brown colour. 

 M. Temminck is not certain that the latter description does not belong to 

 the young of the year. He states, that as the bird advances in age, the 

 black spots of the tail diminish in size. This species is found in Greece 

 and Egypt ; it is veiy common in Andalusia, in mountainous valleys, where 

 it builds in the Oleanders and in the clefts of rocks. Of its habits, very 

 little is known ; Mr. Swainson (Birds, II. p. 64) says, judging from the struc- 

 ture, that it is " evidently a walking bird." The Sussex specimen was very 

 wary, always flying to the further side of some furze-bushes, mounting into 

 the air about fifteen yards. The flight is described as resembling that of 

 the young Ked-backed Shrike. The bird was a male, and would soon have 

 moulted, — one or two new feathers of the primaries having made their ap- 

 pearance on each wing. It was procured by Mr. G. Swaysland, Naturalist, 

 of Brighton, on the 16th of September, 1854. This species is figured in the 

 " Pl9,nches Colorees," 251, f. 1, by Werner, in the " Atlas des Oiseaux d' 

 Europe," and in Mr. Gould's "Birds of Europe," pi. 112.— John Cavafy, 

 Westbourne Terrace, London, May 18th, 1855. 



Ornithological oceurrences in Norfolk. — The following birds have occun-ed 

 in this county during the latter part of the past year: — Marsh Harrier. (Cir- 

 cus aeruginosus.) — Killed at Narford in November. Common Bittern. (Botau- 

 rus stellaris.) — A male, in very fine plumage, killed on 6th Dec , at Great 

 Cressingham, by the Rev. — Warner. Pigmy Curlew. (Tringa subarquata,) 

 and Little Stint. (T. minuta.) — I have a specimen of each of these birds, 

 killed near Yarmouth, in September last. Gray Phalarope. (Phalaropus 

 lobatus.) — Two specimens of this bird have come under my notice, both 

 killed near Fakenham, at difierent periods during the past autumn. Cor- 

 morant. (Phalaci-ocorax carbo.) — Killed at Narford in November. Gannet. 

 (Sula alba.) — An immature specimen, killed in Boderey-field in November. 

 It made a violent attack upon a shepherd's dog, and was killed by the sheep 

 boy with a stick. Richardson's Skua. (Lestris Richardsonii.) — Killed near 

 liynn in October. Little Auk. (Mergulus alle.)— Taken near Pentney in 



