9466 Birds. 



St. Martin's Eiver, Norwich, one morning during the latter part of November last. 

 I had moored the boat ashore, and stood behind a tree watching for a shot, when a 

 noise somewhat peculiar to me at that time of the year attracted my attention, and, 

 turning my head round, I observed an individual of Sylvia rubetra sealed within a 

 few yards of me on a stunted bush by the river side. I stood and watched il several 

 minutes, but as soon as it detected my presence it very prudently took to flight, and 

 was quickly followed by a second individual, which had until then remained unobserved, 

 but a short distance from its companion, hidden by the bushes: this latter specimen 

 I distinctly uoticed as being a male bird. They did not continue their flight far, hut 

 alighted on a solitary bush, about a hundred yards higher up the river's banks from 

 where I first noticed them. I followed them about for some time, but was unable to 

 procure either of them, as they had, after their first surprise, become by far too wary 

 and suspicious to allow me to approach within gunshot of them. I have very 

 frequently watched this species, during the summer months, on that wide and exten- 

 sive tract of land, the renowned Mousehold Heath, situated just on the outskirts of 

 this city ; being covered with brakes and furze, it aflfords a favourable breeding locality 

 for them ; they are therefore to be met with pretty abundantly there during the sum- 

 mer. Thus, well knowing their habits, I am quite certain I am correct in my obser- 

 vations, and being pretty close to the individuals I had good opportunities of dis- 

 tinguishing them from Sylvia rubicola. A friend who was with me at the time, 

 knowing the birds quite well, concurred with me as regards the species. From these 

 circumstances it seems very probable that a few of the whinchats, as well as the stone- 

 chat, do remain during the winter months with us, although it has probably hitherto 

 remained unobserved, or may possibly have been mistaken for the last-named species. 

 — r. E. Gunn; December 30, 1864, 



Richard's Pipit at Braunlon Burrows. — I had the good fortune to shoot a fine 

 example of Anthus llicardi on Braunton Burrows on the 30th of December. I was 

 out with one of my brothers for a day's rabbit-shooting, and when walking across one 

 of the flats which occur between the ridges of sand-hills I observed a bird running 

 with great activity among some dead plants of fleabane {Inula dysenterica), and as it 

 seemed to stand much higher on its legs than the common meadow pipit {A. pralensis), 

 and altogether to appear considerably larger, I walked towards it to obtain a nearer 

 view, and when I had approached to within about fifty yards it rose and flew for a 

 short distance, uttering a loud sharp note quite unknown to me. I at once perceived 

 it was a stranger, and so drew the large shot I had in my gun, and substituted some 

 smaller, with which I fired at it when it was about fifty yards off, as I wished to kill 

 it clean ; however, I only broke one of its legs, and il flew away for a long distance 

 before again alighting, with a dipping flight similar to that of a wagtail. I of course 

 followed il, but it was wild, and kept rising just out of shot, and flying about eighty 

 yards at a time, its wounded leg, no doubt, making it feel very uncomfortable, as I 

 noticed every time it pitched it fluttered a good deal before becoming quiet. I was 

 almost afraid that I should lose it altogether, but at last it settled the other side of a 

 sand-hill, and I was thus able to approach near enough to fire a shot, which this time 

 was more successful, shooting it apparently through the lungs, as the blood flowed 

 freely from its mouth. Yarrell gives 6^ inches as the extreme length of the male bird ; 

 mine measures 7| inches, and is a female. I have compared it with a specimen in 

 the collection of the Rev. W. S. Hore, but his is more strongly marked, so probably 

 the one in my possession is a bird of the year.— G. F. Mat/mws ,• Raleigh House, near 

 Barnstaple. 



