PURPLE HEEON. 147 



Rev. G. W. steward, is stated to have been killed in 1831. 

 rrom the Messrs. Paget we learn that two Yarmouth 

 specimens were sent, one to Colonel Montagu,* and the 

 other, by the Rev. George Lucas, to the British Museum. 

 Amongst other notes very kindly supplied me by Mr. 

 Joseph Clarke, of Saffron Walden, is a notice of two 

 fine specimens of this heron in the possession (1831) 

 of Mr. Stephen Miller, of Yarmouth, shot in that 

 neighbourhood ; and two were included in Mr. Miller's 

 sale catalogue in 1853, but I cannot ascertain by whom 

 they were purchased. 



An immature bird in Mr. Spalding's collection at 

 Westleton, was purchased by him at Yarmouth between 

 twenty and thirty years ago, and a magnificent pair, in 

 full adult plumage, forming part of the late Mr. Lombe's 

 collection at Wymondham, were both shot (as Mrs. 

 Clarke informs me) on Oulton broad, near Lowestoft, in 

 the adjoining county, the male in June, 1833, and the 

 female on the 10th of September of the same year. 



Of late years I know of but two specimens obtained 

 in Norfolk, and both in immature plumage. Of these, 

 the first was shot on Hoveton broad on the 1st of July, 

 1862, by Lord Lilford, who, with a small party, was 

 '* flapper" shooting at the time. On rising from a 

 reed-bush it was at first mistaken for a bittern, but 

 as it flew wounded round the broad, it was recognised 

 by him, from its reddish tints, as a purple heron ; and 

 on cautiously a^^proaching the spot where it was seen to 

 alight, the bird was found nearly dead. On dissecting 

 this specimen, now in the possession of the Rev. T. J. 

 Blofeld, at Hoveton, I found the body, both outside 

 and in, immensely fat, and in the stomach were the 



* Colonel Montagu's collection now forms pai-t of the British, 

 series, at the British Museum, which, according to Mr. G. R. 

 Gray's catalogue, contains two specimens killed in England. 

 u 2 



