THE ZooLocist—May, 1876. 4897 
shot flying over the same broad in November, 1868. In confirmation 
-also of my belief that the above were only escaped birds, I may 
add that on the 21st of January of this year, a swan, answering 
in all respects to the description of the so-called Polish, was 
purchased in our fish-market, and on enquiry was found to have 
come off a lake near Norwich, where probably others are kept 
without the proprietor being aware that they differ from the 
ordinary “mute” swan, and most likely in other parts of the 
county these swans may have been supplied, by London dealers, 
for the ordinary species—a point which I hope to be able to 
ascertain in the course of the ensuing summer. 
The Great Bustard.—Having been unfortunately prevented by 
illness from visiting Hockwold at the time when the fine male 
bustard, recorded by Mr. H. M. Upcher (S. S. 4882) took up its 
temporary quarters in the “ Fen,” I can add nothing further to his 
record than that no tidings have since been received of the noble 
stranger. 
Avocets.—-Two beautiful specimens were shot on Breydon on 
the 30th and 31st, and nothing shows more plainly the uselessness 
of the present ‘Wild Birds Protection Act,’ with its absurdly 
reduced penalties, than the fact that no sooner are birds of this 
kind—the first and rarest in the list of protected (?) species— 
observed on our coast than their fate is sealed, and a purchaser 
found, all the more readily because the gunner, a little nervous 
about his part in the transaction, is glad to dispose of the spoil to 
collectors at less than half the real value. If Mr. Chaplin’s Bill 
is passed this session, I believe such Act will be put in force in 
future. 
HENRY STEVENSON. 
Norwich, April 5, 1876. 
Ornithological Notes from North Lincolnshire. 
By Joun CorpeEaux, Esq. 
(Continued from 8. 8. 4780). 
JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND Marcu, 1876. 
On looking over my note-book I find that there is scarcely 
anything worth recording since the commencement of the year. 
Never do I recollect such an utter dearth of birds, or so wet, 
depressing and uninteresting a season. The weather, as a rule, 
