240 BRITISH BIRDS?) [vol. x. 



of the bill especially seems to vary greatly, much more than 

 sex can account for. The beak of one which my party shot 

 in Egypt was no less than 9.75 inches, while in another 

 killed in Norfolk it is only 6.60, a difference of more than 

 three inches. 



Bittern (Botaurus s. stellaris). 



On January 17th, as I am informed by Mr. R. Gurney, a 

 Bittern was seen apparently in the act of arriving from the 

 Continent ; there was no doubt about its identity for the 

 next day it boomed four times. 



I have not been able to visit their quarters this summer, 

 but on June 11th Dr. Long was fortunate in coming in for 

 a good vocal display. 



White-fronted Goose [Anser albijrons), 

 Barnacle-Goose {Branta leucopsis). 



Three White-fronted Geese were on Breydon Broad ou 

 April 16th, while a Barnacle-Goose was shot there on April 1st 

 (E. C. Saunders) and another at Holl^am on January 8th. 

 On November 14th over sixty Canada Geese were seen by 

 the Rev. M. C. Bird, presumably from private waters 

 somewhere. 



[Ruddy *Sheld-Duck {Casarca ferruginea). 



The Rev. M. C. Bird informs me that four were seen by 

 Mr. Nudd on our principal Broad at the end of October, but 

 their tameness savoured of captivity. It will be remembered 

 that four Avere seen at the same place last year.] 



Gad WALL {Anas sfrepera). 



On Jvme 18th a Gad wall with six young ones was seen on 

 the Yare at Bramerton by Mr. W. G. Clarke. This is the 

 first time they have bred in that part of the county, but 

 a young one was got at Hickling in August, 1907. Reasons 

 for thinking that they are probably spreading were given in 

 the Zoologist for 1900, p. 107. 



Teal (.4. c. crecca). 



The Rev. M. C. Bird notes that as early as January 28th 

 there were several already in pairs at Barton and Irstead, 

 and Mr. Vincent informs me that in his neighbourhood more 

 stayed in the marshes to breed than he had ever known 

 before. 



