206 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



summer and yellow in winter. A singular variety, in 

 many points resembling the beautiful specimen of the 

 chaffinch, obtained at Brooke (p. 201), was killed from 

 a flock at Melton, near Norwich, in December, 1844, 

 and is very accurately figured in Messrs. Gurney and 

 Fisher's " Birds of Norfolk," with the following descrip- 

 tion (Zoologist, p. 1311) : — "With the exception of a 

 brown patch on one or two feathers of one side of the 

 tail, this specimen was entirely white, the greater part 

 of its plumage being also pervaded with an elegant tint 

 of yellow, which particularly showed itself on the sides 

 of the head, and on the edges of the quill feathers of the 

 wings and tail, as well as on the feathers under the 

 wings. The colour of these latter, which is usually 

 yellow, was remarkably bright in this specimen, and 

 extended over a greater space than usual." It is 

 particularly remarked of this species, by Messrs. Shep- 

 pard and Whitear, that Mr. Scales, of Beechamwell, 

 " used to consider them of service to his land, from their 

 devouring, in great abundance, the seeds of the knot 

 grass. Polygonum aviculare.'* 



PASSER MONTANUS (LimiEeus). 



TREE-SPAEROW. 



The extremely wary nature of this species, with 

 its ahnost mouse-hke habit, of creeping out of sight 

 upon the least alarm, renders it somewhat difficult to 

 speak with certainty of its local history; but although 

 apparently confined to certain districts, and nowhere 

 plentiful, it is resident throughout the year and breeds 

 with us. Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear state that they 

 received a specimen " from the Rev. H. Tilney, of Hock- 

 wold, at which place it breeds," and add, ^^Mr. Scales 



