NOTES FROM NORFOLK FOR 1878. 159 
deluged a large portion of the low-lying parts of the city, these 
birds, driven from one foothold to another, as the waters rose 
higher and higher, found at last a temporary resting-place on the 
roofs and upper window-sills of the houses abutting on the river. 
Most of these, it is to be feared, died from want of nourishment, 
or, falling into the water from exhaustion, were drowned, as was 
actually witnessed in one instance at Carrow. In this case, the 
bird was seen to alight, again and again, upon any projecting 
branch or rail above the rushing waters, and as one after another 
of these became submerged he still pursued his course down 
stream till, at last, scared and exhausted, he fell backwards with a 
sharp cry, and was swept away by the torrent. One birdstuffer, 
alone, in Norwich had about twenty brought to him during the 
month of November, and chiefly in the week of the floods. 
DECEMBER. 
Little Auks.— One was brought into Norwich to be stuffed on 
the 8rd, and on the 16th another was picked up at Salthouse, and 
a third at Northrepps on the 18th. 
Pufins.—Two birds of this species were sent up to Norwich 
on the 4th of December. 
Stonechats in Winter.—On the 7th of December a birdcatcher 
brought me a young male Stonechat alive, but which lived only a 
day or two in my aviary, and I saw two in exactly similar plumage 
in a birdstuffer’s shop on the 19th of the same month. 
Crossbill.—I saw a single red male Crossbill, killed about 
the 18th. 
Hawyfinches.—During the month I have seen some nine or ten 
specimens killed in different parts of the county. 
Bramblings, Siskins and Redpolls.— The severe weather 
towards the end of the month did not bring us the usual flocks 
of Bramblings, and it was not till the 21st that I could get a cock 
bird for my aviary, though they were plentiful enough after 
Christmas. Siskins were numerous, but I have heard of no Mealy 
Redpolls this winter. 
White-eyed Pochard.—A bird of this species, shot at Yarmouth 
towards the end of December, is the only duck worth special 
notice that I have heard of on our coast this winter. 
Purple Heron.—An immature bird of this species was, I am 
informed, shot in the neighbourhood of Yarmouth, and brought 
