[appendix c] birds of NORFOLK. 411 



Gharadrius fulvus, Eastern Golden Plover. 

 This species has been admitted to the list of British 

 birds on the strength of a specimen found in Leadenhall 

 Market, in December, 1874, said to have been received 

 from Norfolk (Dresser, " Ibis," 1875, p. 513). It is also 

 included in the 2nd edition of Lubbock's " Fauna of 

 Norfolk," 1879 ; and in Mr. Stevenson's list of Norfolk 

 Birds in White's "Directory of Norfolk," dated 1883, 

 but in most subsequent lists it has been regarded as 

 doubtful, and Mr. Howard Saunders, in the 4th 

 edition of 'Yarrell's " British Birds," observes that 

 *^ although there is nothing improbable " in the state- 

 ment that it was sent from Norfolk, " the evidence 

 appears to be hardly strong enough to justify the admis- 

 sion of this species as a British bird," and, therefore, as 

 a Norfolk bird also. Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., remarks, 

 " Catalogue of Birds of Norfolk " (in Mason's " History 

 of Norfolk "), with regard to this occurrence, " Without 

 wishing to throw doubt on this particular bird, I must 

 say that my experience of London markets leads me to 

 consider ' localities ' worth next to nothing from that 

 quarter," a sentiment with which my experience of some 

 other markets has led me to perfectly agree. 



Ardea alba, Great White Heron (vol. ii., p. 149). 

 Mr. Stevenson was evidently of opinion that this species 

 had some claim to be regarded as a Norfolk species, and 

 has left the following note on the subject:—" Thurtell's 

 bird probably doubtful, but I cannot help thinking that 

 Miller's bird might be relied on, though Lubbock does 

 not mention it. His friend Girdlestone's birds many 

 of them came into Miller's hands." Under the circum- 

 stance I do not feel justified in rejecting the species. 

 Professor Newton possesses a letter written from Yar- 

 mouth in 1831 by Dawson Turner to P. J. Selby, in 

 which reference is made to this species as a Norfolk 

 bird. (" Trans, of the Norfolk and Norwich Nat. Soc," 

 ii., p. 413). 



Porphyrio smaragdonotus, Green-backed Gal- 

 linule. This species, with respect to the validity of the 

 claim of which to be regarded as an occasional straggler 

 to the British shores ornithologists differ, was not in- 

 cluded by Mr. Saunders in the 4th edition of " Yarrell." 

 3d 2 



