SHORT NOTES ON BRITISH BIRDS. 293 



eggs just chipping destroyed by a Stoat which swam across 

 to the " hearth," as the island which they nest on is called. 



It is surmised that " Scoulton " means " School town," 

 which I think doubtful, though one might naturally expect 

 it to take its name from the great colony of Gulls which 

 have nested there from time immemorial. The place be- 

 longs to Mr. Weyland, and intending visitors will do well 

 to remember that an order from his agent at Norwich is 

 requisite to go upon the island. 



There is another much smaller and more recent Gullery 

 at Hoveton Broad, in Norfolk. It is divided into four little 

 colonies, which in 1872 barely numbered 400 birds. The 

 owner, Mr. Blofield, started with sixteen pairs, which were 

 supposed to have come from the Martham district, and may 

 have been the descendants of the old colony at Horsey. 



Willow Warbler. . 



I have observed this species in the winter (Dec. 25th) at 

 Bayonne, which looks as if it was within the limit of its 

 winter migration. The Willow Wren* and Chiff-Chaff are 

 exceptions among the Sylviads, which as a rule go further 

 south than was supposed in Mr. Yarrell's time. Neither in 

 Egypt nor in Algeria could I find a vestige of several 

 species said in books to winter in North Africa. 



* The Willow Wren goes to South Africa but not the Chiff-Chaff, as 

 far as my father knows. 



