NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 371 



on the 6th, and another at Hickliug on the 14th, the latter, in 

 all probability, bred in this county. 



On the 22nd a Snow Bunting was shot at Cromer, which had 

 already begun to assume its breeding-dress, — an exceedingly 

 early date. 



March followed suit as to mildness of temperature, and the 

 first three weeks were altogether foreign to its usual character. 



On the 1st, at Gunton, near Cromer, a solitary Brambling 

 was seen consorting with a flock of other small birds ; and 

 on the 4th and 6tli Hooded Crows, in some numbers, were 

 observed passing southwards, near the coast at Northrepps. By 

 the ] 2th some thirty Eooks' nests were completed in Brundall 

 Wood, and about twenty more by the 16th ; and young Herons 

 were hatched at Taverham prior to the 25th. Of the earliest 

 summer migrants, the Wryneck was heard in Cossey Park on 

 the 20th, and the Willow Wren and Chiflfchaflf at Northrepps, 

 about the same date. 



Snow Buntings, in small numbers, remained along the coast 

 at Yarmouth till late in the month. Bed shanks were clamorous 

 in the marshes quite early in March, and Lapwings' eggs were 

 in Yarmouth market by the last week of the month. 



April was not a pleasant month, the weather variable, and 

 mostly cold and wet, with a prevalence of north and north-east 

 winds. Two or three Magpies were seen at Forncett on the 1st 

 of the month ; and one or more of that species were observed at 

 Northrepps, on the coast, throughout the winter. Of the dates 

 of arrival of summer migrants, I may quote the following from 

 various correspondents : — Cuckoo, 14th, at Northrepps ; Night- 

 ingale, 16th, on the Ipswich and Unthank's Eoads, Norwich, and 

 Reepham a few days earlier, Thorpe 20th, Keswick and Yarmouth 

 22nd: Blackcap, 10th, Woodbastwick ; Swallow, 18th, Keswick, 

 19th, Thorpe River; Sand Martin, 19th, Thorpe River; Redstart, 

 16th, Eaton. On the 21st, at Eaton, a lu-ight spring day, with 

 a south-west wind, I heard and saw, in tlie sheltered copse of 

 " Bhie-bell Hole," Nightingales, Redstarts, Willow Wrens, 

 Blackcaps, and Cbift'chaffs, and three Red-backed Shrikes on a 

 neighbouring fence. Neither in the village nor on the river did 

 I see a single Swallow, or Martin of either species. 



A few Hooded Crows still remained at Northrepps into the 

 second week of April ; and a Woodcock was flushed there on the 



