VOL. x] ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FOR 1916. 233 



from their brown plumage appear to be all young ones. 

 These Starlings are in search of the white slugs which often 

 infest the clover, clinging to the lower part of the stems of 

 the plant, which can then be easily obtained. These slugs, 

 although not large, are known to be very destructive, so this 

 is to the Starling's credit. They are the common field slug 

 (Agriolimax agrestris, L.) {vide Norwich Naturalists' Tr., V., 

 p. 407), which varies from white to a brown colour. 



Greenfinch {Chloris ch. Moris). — The Rev. M. C. Bird, 

 who has paid a good deal of attention to the food of birds 

 from an agriculturist's point of view, observed that Green- 

 finches were taking seed from Scotch firs in the spring (May 

 18th) for their yovnig. It is astonishing what a quantity of 

 food the young can put away, eating or being fed until their 

 swollen crops look ready to burst. The seeds of the Scotch 

 fir seem to have a great attraction for birds (see British 

 Birds, Vol. III., p. 411). 



• Blackcap {Sylvia a. atricapilla). — During the summer 

 Mr. E. Knight observed both the ^Blackcap and the Marsh- 

 Tit feeding on the red berries of the common honeysuckle. 



Wood-Pigeon {Columba j^- palumhus). — I am afraid 

 there are very few farmers in Norfolk who have a good 

 word for the Wood-Pigeon. In July these thieves were to 

 be seen very busy on the thousand-headed kale, which is 

 here grown in rows among the mangold. The mangold 

 are not much touched, at least not for the present, the 

 succulent leaves of the young kale, which are easy to dis- 

 tinguish after the crop has been hoed out, being preferred 

 by the Wood-Pigeons. The glazed leaves of the mangold 

 they do not seem partial to, but young swede turnips are 

 very much to their liking, and they are especially fond of a 

 field of cole seed. Where there are pea-fields, these in 

 August are an unfailing attraction to Pigeons ; now is a 

 good time to lie up for them, seventy-five were in this way 

 accounted for by one gun, who is a noted shot, on August 12th, 

 most of them being adult birds. 



TuRTLE-DovE {Streptopelia t. turtur). — In June when the 

 sainfoin clover is cut, numbers of Turtle-Doves go to the 

 fields to feed on the seeds which are shaken out in the opera- 

 tion. As many as thirty may be seen on a single piece of 

 clover, especially where it is rather over-ripe. These Doves 

 seem to drink a good deal and do not mind brackish water. 



Varieties of Plumage. 

 Pied birds and white birds cannot be said to have much 

 scientific value, yet it is as well to keep a register of them, 



