SOME BIRD NOTES 249 



I saw over thirty on Durrant's poultry stall on October 8th. 

 He had received forty- four by the loth, and I saw six on 

 a countryman's stall on the same date. Mr. J. H. Gurney 

 reported in the Zoologist ', referring to the loth : " Received 

 three live scaup drakes from Saham decoy cage, and about 

 the same time there was a sudden abundance of them at the 

 mouths of our rivers and similar places." Several were re- 

 ported from various stations in the country. At the same 

 time many wild swans, in most cases believed to be Bewick's 

 swans, were observed in different parts of the county, their 

 tameness pointing to their having made a long journey, 

 possibly under wearying conditions. Mr. Gurney wrote me 

 on the 1/j.th that "the number of scaup ducks is certainly 

 very remarkable, and I expect to hear of some more greater 

 spotted woodpeckers." On November loth Mr. Gurney 

 gave me the total of scaups obtained as seventy-seven. On 

 the ist of November I sent him an example, which was 

 reported in the Zoologist as follows : " A female scaup, in a 

 very rufous state as regards breast, neck, and head, received 

 from Mr. Patterson, had probably acquired that ferruginous 

 colour from feeding in water where there was oxide of iron. 

 It had been shot when making its last meal, for several 

 Cyclas cornea (identified by Mr. Reeve) were in its gullet. 

 On showing it to Mr. Caton Haigh," wrote Mr. Gurney, " he 

 said that he had seera one as rufous." (Cf. Birds of Norfolk, 

 III, pp. 78, 190.) 



HERONS AND FISHES 



In February, 1895, a "sportsman" killed four herons in 

 two shots, and his exploit went the rounds of the county 

 papers, including the Eastern Daily Press. The following 

 day appeared a note, signed " S. S. G.," which read as 

 follows : 



" SIR, I heartily congratulate Mr. C on having killed 



four herons in two shots. These birds, besides being detri- 

 mental to sport, consume in this country tons of human 

 food daily, and do no good whatever." 



A note followed from " An Old Sportsman," who said : 

 " I do not agree with those who say that herons are * not 



