250 BRITISH BIRDS. [voL XI. 
must have enjoyed in Europe, is rather surprising. Of wild 
Pheasants and Partridges there was abundance, but not of 
the Red-legged Partridges which, not being native birds, were 
less able to stand the frost. The rarities for 1917 are but 
few—-four Ruddy Sheld-Ducks in January (probably escapes) 
three Ortolan Buntings and a Stork in September, the Buff- 
backed Heron in October, and nine or ten Glaucous Gulls in 
the rough weather with which 1917 came to a close, are all. 
Notice was taken of a red-spangled Partridge in May, and 
the only other variety calling for remark was a cream-coloured 
Cuckoo obtained by Colonel Batt at Gresham (antea, p. 141). 
A dagger (ft) as before, indicates examination by the recorder. 
The rainfall for the year was 27.06 in. (E. Knight). 
CLASSIFIED NOTES. 
Linnet (Carduelis c. cannabina). 
On October 14th Mr. Cole remarked a steady migration of 
Linnets in the neighbourhood of Cromer, passing along the 
coast in successive batches, and all going north-north-west, 
against the wind, which was light. ‘This agrees with former 
observations by Dr. Riviere and others (cf. Zoologist, 1913, 
p. 178 and 1914, p. 179.) 
TREE-SPARROW (Passer m. mortanus). 
In June and July Tree-Sparrows were observed by the 
gardener to be on the Cabbage plants, where they were gather- 
ing the superabundant green caterpiilars (? Mamestra brassicae) 
which, though small, are exceedingly destructive, but some 
large yellow ones (not named) were untouched. Although in 
this instance they were ding good, it is impossible to acquit 
the Tree-Sparrow of taking some share of the farmer’s grain. 
OrTOLAN Bunting (Lmberiza hortulana). 
On September 6th, after a moderate south-easterly wind 
(force 4), three of these Buntings were identified by Mr. I’. J. 
Richards at Blakeney, where they may now fairly be con- 
sidered annual September visitants. 
BEARDED Tir (Panurus b, biarmicus). 
Mr. R. Gurney finds that the Bearded Tits, which are such 
a feature of our Broads—and which were admitted to be 
unusually plentiful in 1916 (British Birds, X, p. 276)— 
became equally scarce in 1917, and the same evidence of 
diminution is supplied by Dr. Long (Buil. B.O.C., XXVIIL., 
p. 34). Mr. James Vincent only met with one brood on 
Hickling during a short visit at the beginning of August, and 
