2828 The Zoologist — November, 1871. 



calling from the rocks, as well as seeing several downy darlings on 

 the water. Sometimes the parent bird gets shot, and the poor 

 little thing is then in sad plight, too young to dive and procure 

 food on its own account. The fishermen tell me, however, that 

 the other birds will "take to" the little orphans, and feed and rear 

 them. This, I think, is not improbable. The following evening, 

 when hand-line fishing off the north landing, within the shelter of 

 the point, the flood running like a mill-race just beyond, we heard 

 the plaintive cries of several nestlings, as, mere specks on the wide 

 waste, they drifted past : one little creature, who was particularly 

 querulous, passed very near the boat and remained long in sight. 

 Each time a flock of guillemots flew over it sent up cry after cry ; 

 and not altogether unheeded, for several swooped downwards and 

 flew over the little bird, as if they meant to alight, yet none seemed 

 disposed to render assistance. This went on for some time, till at 

 last an old giiillcmot, leaving a passing flock, dropped in the water 

 close to the young one, and as long as I could see them these two 

 liept together; certainly from that time the nestling ceased its 

 complaining wail, and let us hope found that care and protection 

 too often denied to man by his fellows. 



John Cordeaux. 



Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, 

 September 30, 1871. 



Ornithological Notes from Norfolk — March to Sejitemher, 1871. 

 By Henry Stevenson, F.L.S. 



(Continued from Zool. S. S. 2504.) 



March. 



Bewick's Swan. — Two old birds in the Norwich Market on the 

 2nd : both these birds had a slight reddish tinge on the upper part 

 of the head. 



Blackthroated Diver. — A young bird, shot in the river at 

 Horning, was brought up to Norwich for sale on the 1st; and two, 

 about the same time, from Breydon. 



Goosander. — A fine adult male was killed at Ranworlh on the 

 11th ; and two at West Harling early in the mouth. 



Smew. — A feniale shot at Wretham. 



Shoveller. — A pair shot on the river near Thetford on the 7tb. 



