400 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



to grouse consists in the two colours of the flesh; the 

 outer portion being very dark, and that nearest to the 

 bone white. 



To revert once more to the general history of this 

 strange invasion, as given in Mr. Newton's European 

 summary, the course of the invading host is there 

 traced " through more than thirty-three degrees of 

 longitude, from Brody in Gallicia, to Naran on the west 

 coast of Donegal; and it will be seen that towards 

 the western limits of Europe it extended over some 

 five and twenty degrees of latitude, from Biscarolle, in 

 Gascony, to Thorshavn, in the Fseroes.* * * * "I 

 rather doubt (says Mr. Newton) if the main body ever 

 reached England. Nearly one hundred is the largest flock 

 recorded as having been observed in this island at one 



* With regard to the date of their appearance, the same author 

 writes, " Unfortunately I am at present ignorant of the exact times 

 of its first appearance in the most eastern localities. The earliest 

 date given with precision is the 6th of May, at Sokolnitz, in Moravia. 

 A week later the right flank of the advancing army had reached 

 Tuchel, in West Prussia ; on the 17th its centre was observed at 

 Polkwitz, in Silesia. On the 20th of May birds occurred at Wohlau, 

 in Anhalt, and on the Danish Island of Laaland. The following 

 day (the 21st) they had not only over-run the British dependency 

 of Heligoland, but had established themselves on the shores of 

 England, at Thropton, in Northumberland. The next day they had 

 penetrated to Eccleshall, in Staffordshire, and crossed the country 

 to Walney, on the coast of Lancashire. By the end of the month 

 they had arrived at the Faeroes." With the exception, therefore, of 

 the lapse of observations between the 6th and 14th of May, " the 

 Tartar horde seems to have swept uninterruptedly onwards in an 

 almost uniformly north-western direction, small bands detaching 

 themselves from the main body at intervals, and these again often 

 separating into pairs throughout the entire transit. Once arrived 

 at the borders of the ocean, if one may judge from the evidence 

 before us, many were driven back. Then they seem to have spread 

 themselves over the surrounding countries, seeking out, as was 

 natural, districts most agreeable to their habits." 



