9496 Birds. 



or three female goosanders have been lately lulled, and as many female 

 smews, but the weather has not been sharp enough to bring any old 

 males. A graylag goose (rare) was killed, about the 15th, at Horsea, 

 near the sea. On the 27lh a young male northern diver was killed at 

 Wells, and a bittern at Burgh, near Yarmouth. On the 30th a few 

 old male scaups and tufted ducks were in the market, but no rare fowl 

 up to the present date, with the exception of the velvet scoter. 



January, 1865. A female variety of the common blackbird was shot 

 near this city, during the first week in January, having the head and 

 neck light buff-colour, the wings and tail white, and the rest of the 

 plumage grayish brown. On the 8th a quail was killed at Besthorpe : 

 a few of these birds certainly remain with us throughout the year in 

 favourable localities. On the lOlh a gray phalarope was killed at 

 Hasborough, on the coast. On the 21st a young redthroated diver, 

 with other fowl, in the fish-market; a bird of the year. On the 11th a 

 fine bittern, and another on the 21st. Observed a large flight of pied 

 wagtails, on the 22nd, in a turnip-field, where the roots had been left 

 earthed up : old and young birds were running about together in con- 

 siderable numbers, evidently passing to the southward, owing to the 

 late severe frosts, which have "laid" all the smaller streams. A few 

 more siskins were netted in this neighbourhood about the 24th. Red- 

 wings and fieldfares extremely plentiful, frequenting such trees in the 

 hedge-rows as are literally covered this year with scarlet berries. On 

 the 23rd a single red male crossbill was shot on Monsehold, near this 

 city, the first I have seen or heard of this winter. On the 28th a mag- 

 nificent pair of adult goosanders were killed at South Walsham, the 

 first indication that the frost has begun to tell upon the wild fowl, as 

 it usually takes several days of severe weather to bring the old birds 

 of this species to our inland waters. Hitherto we have had but little 

 fowl in our markets, including, however, amongst the more usual kinds, 

 one or two old male scaups and goldeneyes. On the 30th a young 

 male merlin, and on the following day an adult Bewick's swan, was ex- 

 hibited in our market. I have seen no hoopers at present, but a much 

 less degree of cold invariably brings the smaller species. 



H. Stevenson. 

 Norwich, February 2, 1865. 



Ornithological Notes from West Sussex. 

 By W. Jeffery, jun., Esq. 



Golden Plover. — The flat tract of land between the South Downs 

 and the coast has, during the month of January, been visited by golden 



