Birds. 9577 



breeding plumage, with much white on the head and crest, and the 

 patches on the thighs very pure, was killed near Hoveton Broad on 

 the 23rd of March. It is said to have frequented that neighbourhood, 

 in company with another bird, for more than a week ; but they were 

 far too wary to come within shot of the keeper, who only procured 

 this one by having them driven over his head as he laid in ambush. 

 This species is now rare in Norfolk, and particularly in mature 

 plumage. On dissecting the above I found it to be a female, with 

 three eggs, varying in size from a small marble to a pea, besides a 

 large cluster not bigger than a pin's head. The stomach was quite 

 empty, and though, from its perfect plumage, the bird might have been 

 considered in good health, the internal parts showed evident signs of 

 disease. 



Sclavonian Grebe. — An adult male, in full winter plumage, killed 

 on the Norwich River, near Coldham Hall, was brought to me on the 

 27th of February. The stomach contained nothing but feathers, as 

 usual stained with green and having a brackish smell. 



Velvet Scoter. — Another adult male was purchased in our fish- 

 market on the 27th of February, but was not so rich in colouring as 

 that previously described (Zool. 9495). The plumage had a decidedly 

 weather-beaten appearance, which is particularly observable in the 

 common scoter after long-continued and severe frosts. The stomach 

 contained minute fragments of shells and portions of small crabs' 

 claws. 



Wild Swan. — An adult Bewick's swan, shot at Ludham, was 

 exhibited in the market for sale on the 4th of March, and a fine 

 hooper on the 20lh. Two or three others have also been killed near 

 Yarmouth, and one at Burlingham. 



Wild Geese. — With the exception of a few brents, we have had 

 scarcely any wild game brought to our market this winter, in spite of 

 the severe weather. I have seen only one bean goose, and that on 

 the 18th of March. 



Henry Stevenson. 

 Norwich, March 31, 1865. 



Ornithological Notes from East Sussex. By John Dutton, Esq. 



Wild Geese. On the 13th of February large flocks of wild geese 

 were seen flying westward, but some distance " off at sea." It was a 

 bitter cold day ; snow about two inches deep. 



VOL. XXIII. 2 c 



