4340 THE ZooLocisT—FEBRUARY, 1875. 
Hall estate. A female was killed at Harwich in January, 1828; a second 
was killed at Little Clacton in the winter of 1824, and a third at Chelmsford. 
—Mr. C. T. Townsend, of Ipswich, in a letter to Mr. J. Alfred Lockwood. 
Little Bustard in Norfolk.—I have to record the occurrence and capture 
of a fine adult female specimen of the little bustard in Norfolk. The bird 
in question came to hand on the 7th of December, from Capt. R. 8. Bagge, 
of Gaywood Hall, King’s Lynn, for whose collection it is now being preserved. 
Capt. Bagge, in reply to my inquiries, kindly informed me it was killed by 
Mr. Gregory in a field of cole-seed in the parish of Tilney All Saints, West 
Norfolk, on the 2nd of December. The bird was in good feather and con- 
dition. Yarrell (vol. ii. p. 306, 1st ed.) says that the base of the feathers 
in a great bustard shot in 1838 were of a delicate rose-colour. I do not 
find any record of the prevalence of this colour in the plumage of the little 
bustard. In skinning the above-named specimen, I found this delicate rose 
tint prevailing in the base of its feathers, excepting in those of the head 
and neck. Although previous authors have apparently failed to notice this 
fact, or probably passed it over as unimportant, and Yarrell mentions it as 
though it were a solitary instance, I am of opinion that this colouring is 
usual in both species. Perhaps some correspondent of the ‘ Zoologist’ who 
may have an opportunity of examining a bustard in the fresh state will 
examine it and see if this tint prevails. The following are the markings, 
dimensions and weight of the specimen under consideration :—Iris deep 
yellow; legs dull yellowish gray; beak dark horn, dull yellowish at base of 
both mandibles. 
Length, tip of beak to end of tail - - $ 2 18 inches. 
Extended wings, to tip of each - : : . - 363 ,, 
Wing, carpal joint to tip - - : - - Loe 
Tibia - . s : : - Z oleae 
Tarsus Pay ars - - - = : : a2 ks 
Middle toe and claw : - ates f= Joe den tlle 
Outer nu - : - : : : rf Oe 
Inner & ue one 
Tail - : : - - - - - . 64s 
Beak—Length : : - = E TS a 
> Width at base - - ° ° Ys 
Weight, 1tb. 123 oz. 
On dissection, it showed a full ovary of eggs, in size equal to ordinary 
pins’ heads, and its stomach was quite distended with vegetable matter, 
consisting of leaves of turnip-tops and some herbs. Yarrell assimilates the 
flavour of the flesh to that of a young hen pheasant: I had the breast of 
this example roasted, and it reminded me of a mixture of red grouse and 
pheasant.—T. E. Gunn; January 9, 1875. 
The Heron preying on Birdss—The following instances of a heron 
catching swift-flying birds on the wing came under my notice during the 
—— 
