9732 Birds. 



considerable distance. There seems to me, then, nothing wonderful in 

 finding their congener, the great black woodpecker in England. But 

 since it is decidedly not indigenous, nor yet a regular visitant, all 

 records of its occurrence, to be of value and interest, should be 

 thoroughly well authenticated. 



J. Edmund Harting. 

 Kingsbury, Middlesex, July 23, 1865. 



While. Egf/s of the Yellowhammer. — I enclose you a while specimen of the egg of 

 the yellowhammer; the nest contained four eggs, all white. 1 could not have believed 

 them to be the yellowhammer s eggs had the old bird not have been upon the nest: it 

 is a very curious variety, and I send a specimen for your acceptance. — George 

 Mawson ; Cochermouth, July 7 , 1865. 



[This very curious variety of a common egg is most interesting: it has nothing 

 either in shape or colour to indicate the species. — Edward Newman^ 



Arrival of Summar Migrants near Norwich. — The following are the earliest arrival 

 of summer migrants I have noticed this season in ihis locality : — 

 April 7th. Wryneck and nightingale. 

 April 8th Sedge warbler. 



April 9th. Blackcap, a male of which I found floating near the bank of the stream 

 at Old Lakenham, near Norwich. I took it fiom the water, and found its eyes and 

 part of its head had been picked away, doubtless the victim of some hawk, which 

 probably being disturbed had accidentally dropped it into the water whilst hurrying 

 away. It was apparently only just dead, as it was quite warm when I oblaiued it. 

 April 10th. Cuckoo. 



April l;5th. Willow warblers and chifl'chaffs appear more plentiful this season, 

 whilst the swallows and martins have arrived in very small quantities at present. 

 Sand martins arrived about the same period. 

 April 15th. Yellow wagtail. 

 April 16th. Lesser tern. 

 April 18th. Black tern. 



April 20th. A male ring ouzel shot at Baiford, near Norwich. 

 April 22nd. An adult female hoopoe shot in Mr. Read's garden at Plumstead, 

 near Norwich, 



April 26th. Shieldrake.— r. E. Gunn ; Nortvich. 



Eggs of Pheasant and Partridge in the same Nest. — A friend of mine has just 

 informed me that in taking a walk into the country, he observed his dog to point; on 

 walking up to the spot, two partridges rose; he removed the grass away with his 

 walking-stick, and was surprised to find nineteen partridge's and seven pheasant's 

 eggs in the same nest. Is this not very unusual? — George Mawson. 



[Three other instances, exactly similar, except in the number of eggs, have been 

 communicated to me during the present summer. — Edward Newman.'] 



Malformed Egg of the Domestic Fotcl. — I enclose you a curious malformed 

 egg of the domestic fowl. I took it from the nesl a couple of years ago. — George 

 Mawson. 



