876 The Zoologist — August, 1867. 



The Rock Pipit in Norfolk.— In reply to Dr. Bree's remarks on this species (S. S. 

 792), I must admit that it is very singular that the rock pipit should breed regularly 

 on the Essex coast and not on our own ; but without any, even the slightest, evidence 

 of its doing so, it was impossible for me to include it amongst the residents in my 

 • Birds of Norfolk.' I have searched for this bird myself repeatedly during the summer 

 months ou almost all parts of the coast, at Cromer, Sherringham and Maudsley, at 

 Hunstanton, near Lynn, at Yarmouth, and at Lowestoft, in the adjoining county, yet 

 though well acquainted with the form and colouring of the species, and the difference 

 between its note and that of the meadow pipit's, I have never met with it here. Until 

 the spring of 1864 a Norfolk-killed specimen was a desideratum in my collection, 

 although I had repeatedly offered a good sum for one to our local birdstuffers. During 

 seventeen years I have known of but three specimens killed in this county, one (as I 

 have elsewhere stated) shot at Yarmouth, in February, 1855, during severe weather, 

 and two in the spring of 1864 by the river-side near Norwich, one of which corresponds 

 with the Anthus rupestris of Nilsson. These two I still believe, as slated in my ' Birds 

 of Norfolk,' vol. i. p. 170, " were passing over in their migratory course, and had paused 

 a little while to rest and feed,'' not breed, as occurs, through a misprint, in Dr. Bree's 

 quotation. Were the rock pipit otherwise than a rare bird in Norfolk I cannot under- 

 stand why it should be so comparatively unknown to our resident birdstuffers. I never 

 saw and never heard of any one who had takeu a nest of this species in Norfolk, 

 although we abound in zealous egg-collectors, and surely amongst the numbers of 

 meadow pipits to be seen at all seasons, with other common species, in the shops of our 

 bird-preservers, the rock pipits, if common, would occur as well: such, however, is not 

 the case. Even at Yarmouth, where, owing to the tidal waters of Breydon, one would 

 expect to find it rather plentiful, the Messrs. Paget merely remark that " a few are 

 occasionally seen about Breydon wall," aud I can hear nothing more decided as to its 

 habits, in that locality, to the present time, although probably, if carefully watched for, 

 it would be observed there as a migrant in spring and autumn. In some localities in 

 the South of England, especially in places having a rocky shore, I have found this 

 pipit taking the place, as it were, of the common titlark in the vicinity of the coast: 

 on our shores the titlark reigns supreme, and this, as far as Cromer and its neighbour- 

 hood is concerned, I can vouch for, from peisonal observation, as well in autumn and 

 winter as in summer and the early spring. The difference between the rock pipit and 

 the meadow pipit, when observed feeding together, is very marked, as I had a good 

 opportunity of noticing two years ago, on the summit of the Freshwater cliffs, in the 

 Isle of Wight, where I found a small flock of each species feeding on the bare spots 

 from whence the turf had been dug, and the difference in their notes, as they rose, was 

 also plainly perceptible. Having staled, then, all that I do know respecting this species 

 in Norfolk, I am as far as ever from being able to solve the mystery, why the rock pipit 

 should not breed with us, though known to do so, as Dr. Bree states, on the cliffs about 

 Walton and Felixstow. — Henry Stevenson ; Norwich, July 5, 1867. 



Young Hawfinch at Alton in June.— Last week I had an old male and a young 

 hawfinch brought me : never having heard of their being seen in this neighbourhood 

 except during the winter, I thought the fact of their breeding here should be recorded 

 in the 'Zoologist.' I am having both birds preserved. — Philip Crowley; Culvcrlon 

 i/ome, Alton, July 3, 1867. 



