Birds. 7391 



however, that in spite of a deep snow the partridges appeared to suffer 

 less than other birds ; several that I shot, during the entire batch of 

 cold weather, were in fine condition ; whilst the brauiblings, larks, &c., 

 frequenting the same stacks for food, were many of them half-starved. 



During the last winter I recorded the extraordinary number of 

 kingfishers killed near this city, of which the larger number were un- 

 doubtedly migratory visitants. This year 1 have seen only one or two 

 chance specimens, brought into Norwich for preservation ; but the 

 green woodpeckers have, in their turn, suffered to such an extent that 

 between twenty and thirty were brought to one of our birdstuffers in 

 less than three weeks. 



A great many blackheaded and common gulls were shot both 

 inland and on the coast, and appeared to have suffered much, as did 

 also the rooks and Royston crows. 



The following is a list of the rarer species observed during the last 

 two or three months, with dates of the capture of individuals where 

 obtainable. 



Hen Harrier. First in order, and not least in rarity, are two fine 

 old males of this species in their delicate blue and white plumage, in 

 which state they have become of late years extremely scarce in this 

 county. The first of these, and the most perfect bird of the two, 

 was shot at Hickling on the 12th of January, the other at Hargham 

 about the same time. This bird still retained a small patch of brown 

 on the nape of the neck, with a few brown feathers on the back. Two 

 young males in their first year's plumage were killed at Horning and 

 Brundall about the 21st of December. 



Merlin. A splendid little male in full adult plumage (alas! very, 

 scarce now in this stage) was killed at Shottisham on the 14th of January, 

 an immature female at Shemngham on the 24th of December, and 

 several seen in different parts of the county about the same time. 



Dipper, Two of these very accidental visitants have been 

 shot during the winter, one at Beeston, near Cromer, on the 29th of 

 December, and another inland on the 28th of January. These birds 

 are no doubt stragglers from the northern counties, frozen out from 

 their natural haunts and wandering in search of food. Both birds 

 appeared to be immature, the white of the breast being scarcely so pure 

 as in adult specimens, and the under parts wanting the chestnut band. 

 I believe that the very few specimens of this bird that are met with 

 from time to time in Norfolk are all birds of the year dispersed during 

 the autumn and winter. 



Chaffinch. A very beautiful and unusual variety of this common 



