9250 Birds. 
I cannot remember if they had white about them.” Having pursued 
the inquiry thus far, I was desirous of finding the notice referred to 
by Yarrell, in the Zoological Society’s ‘Proceedings,’ but failing in 
this, I wrote to the Secretary, Dr. Sclater, to know if he could in any 
way assist me in discovering by whom the “ communication” had been 
originally made. In a few days I received the following reply, 
assuring me of that gentleman’s persevering, though fruitless, efforts to 
comply with my request .— 
“ Zoological Society of London, 
July 16, 1864. 
“ My dear Sir,—I have searched in vain in our ‘ Proceedings,’ and 
also in our written remarks, for any traces of the paper you mention. 
I cannot find anything like it. I fear it was only mentioned in the 
way of conversation at the Meeting, or perhaps specimens exhibited, 
and was never entered in our Minutes. 
“ Very truly yours, 
“'P. L. SCLATER.” 
- 
Here, therefore, my researches must end, but I think enough has 
been elicited to render it more than doubtful whether the birds referred 
to were really specimens of the great black woodpecker, and that, 
until some more authentic instance of the occurrence of that species 
shall entitle it to be replaced, it will be best removed altogether from 
the Norfolk ‘List. Mr. Drake particularly remarks that the birds 
were not preserved, which would undoubtedly have been the case had 
they been exhibited before the Society in London, and Mr. Yarrell 
speaks only of a “communication” made without any reference to 
specimens. Supposing also, as Dr. Sclater suggests, that the matter 
was only “mentioned in the way of conversation,” without any entry 
being subsequently made in the Minutes, it is most probable that 
Mr. Yarrell was himself present at the Meeting, or was informed of 
the circumstance by some other Member of the Society. 
HENRY STEVENSON. 
Norwich, August 14, 1864. 
[I am extremely gratified to find Mr. Stevenson taking up this 
subject. 1 heartily wish that one or other of my correspondents 
would investigate, in an equally searching manner, every instance in 
which the great black woodpecker is reported to have visited this 
country. The habits of this bird are so well known, and are so 
