WHITE SPOONBILL. 187 



bills frequented the lake at Holkham, and being 

 unmolested. Lord Leicester on one occasion walked 

 close up to tliem. 



1853-4. Somewhere about this date a specimen in 

 Mr. Newcome's collection, at Feltwell, was procured in 

 Hockwold fen. 



1855. May 14th. A fine old male kiUed at Stiflfkey, 

 near Wells. 



1859. May 4th. A male in very perfect plumage 

 shot at Hickling. The long crest of this bird was bufiy- 

 white and a rich broad band of buff- colour extended 

 across the breast and formed a collar, as it were, round 

 the lower part of the neck, which was deepest in colour 

 near the points of the wings. The under parts were 

 also faintly marked with buff on the tips of the 

 feathers. I saw this specimen in the flesh, and was 

 struck with the richness of its colouring, but on seeing 

 it again a week or so later, the buff tints had almost 

 faded away, and I doubt not after a time would be 

 scarcely perceptible. 



1860. July 6th. One shot on Breydon ; sex not noted. 



1862. May. A female in Captain Longe's collec- 

 tion, shot on Breydon ; and a male from the same 

 locality, in that month, was sent up to Leadenhall 

 Market with greenshanks and turnstones. 



1863. May 15th. A young female in pure white 

 plumage and scarcely any crest, was shot at Hickhng. 



Early in the same month two or three were also ■ 

 seen on Breydon ; and a magnificent pair were killed 

 at one shot between Lowestoft and Southwold, in 

 Suffolk,* on the 1st of May, which were preserved by 



* Dui'ing the last four or five years Mr. Fenwick Hele has 

 recorded the occurrence of this species almost every spring at 

 Aldeburgh and Thorpe Mere, on the Suffolk coast, Yide " Field " 

 (June 25th, 1864, p. 443; July 28th, 1866, p. 81 ; and July 13th, 

 1867, p. 31). 

 2b2 



