190 Letters, Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, ^c. 



cially in the one from Sherringham, which had also a richer vinous 

 tint on the wings ; but in each the band over the crown of the 

 head was but shghtly traceable. Of the two killed at Sherring- 

 ham on the 9th and 10th of January, one was evidently an older 

 bird than the other, with a perfect black gorget and bright yellow 

 tints on the throat and neck ; the horns were well developed, and 

 the cheeks black. The forehead, however, was more white than 

 yellow, with a very indistinct black band mixed with yellow on 

 the upper part of the head ; the points of the shoulders vinous. 

 The younger specimen had a smaller gorget, each black feather 

 being tipped with yellow; the black on the cheeks also blended 

 in the same manner. The horns slight, but quite distinguishable ; 

 no perceptible band across the head ; forehead yellowish white ; 

 and several reddish longitudinal spots on the breast, immediately 

 below the gorget. 



At the time when these last two birds were obtained, the 

 weather was very mild ; but a severe frost had broken up about 

 ten days before. Besides these recent specimens occurring in so 

 singular a manner about the same time, I know of only three 

 other examples of the Shore-Lark killed in this county — a young 

 male in March 1830, an adult male at Yarmouth in November 

 1850, and a third male, also adult, at Holkham in December 

 1855. I have before alluded to the curious fact of all those pro- 

 cured being male birds, and it is worthy of notice in so acciden- 

 tal a visitant that, with one exception, all in the above list ap- 

 peared during the winter months. 



I am. Sir, 



Yours, &c., 



H. Stevenson. 



P.S. An adult male of the Little Owl [Strix passerina) was 

 taken alive on board a fishing-smack oflf Yarmouth about the 

 first week in February. 



To the Editor of ' The Ibis.' 



Australian Museum, Sydney, 

 Nov. 10th, 1861. 



Sir, — A few days ago I purchased, from M. Jourde, Surgeon 

 of the French whaling-ship ' General d'Hautpoul,' a fine collec- 



