2362 The Zoologist — November, 1870. 



Siskin and Redpoll. — In spite of the severity of the weather there 

 has been a remarkable absence of siskins this winter, as remarked by 

 our birdcalchers ; and redpolls of both species have been scarce. 



Gray Wagtail. — Several observed about the drains in the meadows 

 at Keswick, near Norwich, previous to and during the frosty weather. 



Februauy. • 



Bittern. — Two purchased in the Norwich fish-market about the 

 first week of this month, and another on the 12th. 



WiM-fowl. — As evidences of the extremely severe weather of the 

 previous week, our fish-market, on the 12th, contained scaups, golden- 

 eyes, wigeon, and tufied ducks, with fine old male birds of each 

 species, common and blackheaded gulls, and large bunches of dunlins, 

 larks, fieldfares and greenfinches. Immense numbers of the common 

 scoter were observed off the coast, and on the larger broads the fowl, 

 chiefly wigeon and tufted ducks, collected in considerable quantities 

 on the ice, and were therefore extremely difl^cult of approach. 



Shieldrake.—- An unusual number of these handsome fowl were killed 

 during this mouth in various localities. One at Hickling on the 10th ; 

 one on the 11th at Stalham; three at Gunton, near Lowestoft, on the 

 12th and 15th ; two at Salthouse on the 14th ; one at Cromer on the 

 15th ; and on the 25th two at Cley. 



Goosander. — A fine adult male, with salmon-tinted breast, shot at 

 Stalham on the 10th ; young birds and females not uncommon during 

 the hard frosts. Several adult birds were seen on Fritton Lake, near 

 liowestoft, towards the end of this month. 



Redbreasted Merganser. — Besides immature birds, several magni- 

 ficent old males were killed about this time. On the 21st I had one 

 sent me, from Cley, in perfect plumage. On the 18th another was 

 shot on Breydon, and two more at Cley on the 26th. 



Ruff.—See Mr. Gunn's note in the 'Zoologist' (S. S. 210-3). 



Bratnbling. — Very plentiful during the severe weather. On the 13th, 

 with a driving N.E. wind, and a deep snow on the ground, a sn)all 

 beech plantation close to Norwich was full of these birds, which, with 

 chaffinches, titmice and other small birds, fed on the beech-mast, 

 wherever exposed by the wind drifting the snow from the ground in 

 places. Blackbirds and thrushes suffered considerably from cold and 

 hunger. 



Wild Geese. — A few Brent geese in the Norwich market, but no 

 other species throughout the winter. 



