THE ZooLocist— Marcu, 1872. 2981 
purchased some years ago in the London market, and of a pair 
taken near Rotterdam in April, 1850, see ‘Zoologist’ for 1859 
(p. 6536). 
DECEMBER. 
The early and severe frosts which occurred at the beginning of 
November brought great quantities of fowl to our coast, and the 
usual large flocks of redwings and fieldfares, with snow buntings, 
bramblings and other finches; but these, owing to the severity of 
the weather, soon passed on to the southward. Tufted ducks were 
very plentiful, and a few adult male goldeneyes, rarely seen till 
later in the season, were observed amongst others on the frozen 
broads. A single whooper swan was killed at Blakeney as early as 
the 6th of November, and after a heavy fall of snow on the 17th 
our market presented the ordinary aspect of mid-winter, from the 
number of wood pigeons, lapwings and gulls (chiefly blackheaded) 
that were exhibited for sale. December followed suit with a very 
heavy fall of snow on the 7th, drifted in some places to a considerable 
depth, which, though protecting vegetation from the intense frost 
that continued with little abatement for some days, proved “ hard 
times” for the birds of all kinds, both inland and on the coast. 
The cold experienced on the night of the 7th, when the thermometer 
fell below zero, was not exceeded at any time during the severe 
winter of 1870-71. Partridges, both English and French, killed 
out of the fences, were now plentiful in the market, with large 
bunches of dunlins and other Tringe; trays full of greenfinches, 
mostly male birds, chaffinches, thrushes, redwings and larks, showed 
the gunners were busy, but neither sportsmen nor collectors bene- 
fitted much. The winter had begun too soon and was too suddenly 
severe. Our northern visitants, when thus overtaken before the 
usual period, proceed southward at once, and rarely return till the 
spring, and the wild-fowl, snipes, and even the coots, frozen out, 
left the broads altogether, and most of them the coast and salt- 
marshes. At this time large flocks of wild swans were observed 
passing over, and geese of various kinds were seen on the wing or 
feeding warily in the open country, but very few were procured, 
and adult goosanders, mergansers, and other rare fowl, have been 
“conspicuous by their absence,” both in our markets and bird- 
stuffers’ shops. Siskins have been extremely scarce, and no mealy 
redpolls have been taken by the birdcatchers. 
SECOND SERIES—VOL, VII. P 
