3356 The Zoologist — January, 1873. 



into the yard below, were also captured. Not the least remarkable 

 part of the story is the fact of their choosing a bird-stuffer's house 

 for this rash act. 



Swift. — T saw the last swift at Thorpe market on the 3rd. — G. 



Little Bittern. — On the 15th a little bittern was shot near 

 Bungay, by Mr. Mann. — G. 



Cromer Lighthouse. — On the 4th a willow wren and about 

 twenty sky larks flew against the lighthouse. Also the keeper 

 caught an owl, which may cither have been attracted by the light, 

 or by the larks, which were fluttering against the light. On the 5th 

 a goldcrest; wind N.E. On the 7lh a starling and two thrushes; 

 W.S.W., cloudy and misty. The former was killed, the latter got 

 away. Many birds strike the glass, but have strength left to get 

 away: on the lOlh a jack snipe, which had done so I have no 

 doubt, was picked up in a garden at the foot of the hill on which 

 the lighthouse stands. On the ^Olh two goldcrests — S.W., fog ; 

 their gizzards were empty, as if they had come off" a long voyage — 

 and a very good immature ring ouzel. On the 24th, a wren and a 

 robin ; S.S.W. On the 28th, a chaflinch ; W.S.W., gloomy.— G^. 



Shoieler Duck. — A young female, no doubt bred in this county, 

 was sent up to Norwich during the first week of this month. 



Autumn Migrants. — On the 7th, gray crows were seen off" 

 Cromer, by a gentleman who was fishing at sea. The same day 

 they were first seen off" Yarmouth, where some settled on the 

 paddle-box of a steamer, exhausted with their long flight; and 

 hundreds of rooks, and larks, and starlings, together with a icvf 

 jackdaws and three tree sparrows, were observed about twenty 

 miles from the shore, the wind being from the east, all bent on the 

 same errand, — the accomplishment of the great autumnal migra- 

 tion. On the lltb, the same observer writes that there was a check 

 in the migratory tide : — " No small birds crossing, only a few 

 rooks ; I suppose they knew of the gale of wind that was coming 

 on ; I saw two drowned rooks about twenty miles from the land." 

 But on the 14th, being again at sea from 4 a.m. until 8 p.m., he 

 saw more : — " There were rooks, gray crows, starlings, larks, chaf- 

 finches, and tree sparrows, crossing, but the day being fine they 

 did not seem tired ; and the only birds that came to rest on board 

 were a few tree sparrows." I am well aware that this species will 

 not unfrequently alight on vessels in the North Sea, and occasion- 

 ally in great flocks. — G, 



