305 



NOTES ON THE ORNITHOLOGY OF NORFOLK. 



By T. E. Gunn, Esq. 



Hen Harrier. A mature female was killed at Hickling on the 24tU 

 instant. In its stomach were the remains of Emheriza citrinella. 



Varieties. Strix Jiammea. Two nice varieties of this species 

 have lately heen taken in this neighbourhood. The first example, 

 a male, was killed about the 10th of November last; the under parts 

 of its plumage instead of being the natural hue, white, were of a uniform 

 buff colour ; the upper parts were marked as usual, only of a somewhat 

 darker tint. The second individual, an adult female, was obtained about 

 the 5th or 6th instant, its plumage being of a similar hue to that of the 

 above example, only of a darker tint. This one has been preserved and is 

 now in our museum. Fringilla domestica — a female piebald variety was 

 shot on the 12th ult. at Reedham, its plumage being speckled with small 

 patches of white, a band of white extended from the outer margin of one 

 wing, across its rump to the outer margin of the other. Scolopax rustlcola. 

 A splendid pied variety, a male specimen was killed at Melton Constable, 

 on the 19th of November. The first three quill feathers in one wing ; the 

 first three, and the fifth up to the tenth inclusive, in the other wing were 

 of a pure white, without the slightest indications of any markings whatever ; 

 the fourth quill feather in the latter being of its natural colour and markings, 

 with the exception of a small spot of white at its tip ; a few white feathers 

 were also scattered over and near the outer margins of its wings. The 

 piebald variety of the Woodcock is indeed of very rare occurrence here, 

 this being only the second instance I have observed during the last six 

 years in the eastern counties ; the first, which was also a male example, 

 a sketch of which is given in Young England, vol. iii. page 213, was 

 killed in the neighbourhood of Lowestoft, in Suffolk, on the 18th of 

 March, 1859. Anas boschas. I saw a female on the 23rd of November, 

 the plumage, mor particularly about its head, neck, and upper parts, was 

 marked with patches of white. I have in two or three instances met 

 with similar specimens before at this season of the year. 

 No. 20, Feb. 15. X 



