[appendix B.] birds op NORFOLK. 389 



belief, only occurring as ^^an irregular migrant," has since 

 proved to be a regular winter visitor, sometimes occur- 

 ring in considerable numbers. In the winter of 1859-60 

 large numbers occurred ; again, in 1872, about sixty were 

 killed near Diss alone; in November, 1876, thirty were 

 killed in one garden, at Diss, before the slaughter was 

 stopped, the attraction being the numerous berries on 

 some fine old yew trees ; many others were met with 

 in November and December, 1878, and in the winter 

 of 1880-1, more especially in the month of January 

 ("Zoologist," 1883, p. 313). Mr. Stevenson remarks 

 that a young bird, shot in the latter end of June, 

 1856, at Kimberley, where it had been observed with 

 the old birds and two other young ones in a garden, 

 was " the first Norfolk bred Hawfinch he had ever 

 seen." It now nests regularly in various localities in 

 this county, as well as in Sufi'olk, and the numbers 

 breeding here seem to be on the increase. 



Loxia curvirostra, Crossbill (vol. i., p. 235). 

 Although recorded by Miss Anna Gurney (" Trans, of 

 the Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc," ii., p. 19) as having 

 bred in this county so long since as 1829, in April of 

 which year a crossbill's nest was found at Sheringham, I 

 am not aware that any other instance has been detected 

 till quite recently ; but it is possible, and even probable, 

 that a pair or two may have from time to time remained 

 to breed here ; it is, however, very unlikely that had 

 they done so in such numbers as have been met with of 

 late, they would have escaped notice. Certainly for the 

 past five years this species has bred in several widely 

 distant localities in Norfolk and Suffolk, and sometimes 

 in rather considerable numbers. 



Professor Newton, in a foot-note to his account 

 of this species (Yarrell's " British Birds," edition 4, 

 ii., p. 190), mentions that Lord Lilford had stated to 

 him his belief that it had several times bred in 

 West Norfolk prior to the year 1877, and in the 

 same locality to which I believe Lord Lilford referred 

 they have since been known to nest several times. 

 Mr. Frank Norgate, who had excellent opportunities of 

 observing this species during the breeding season, tells 

 me that he first discovered it nesting in Suffolk in 1885, 



