NOTES AND QUERIES. 347 
November, 1884. The man who sent me this clutch of eggs is one of the 
climbers on the Flamborough cliffs, and is well acquainted with the various 
birds occurring along the coast, and has no connection with the man from 
Filey who had gathered the eggs I saw in 1884. I think myself there is 
no doubt the eggs are authentic, but it is a great pity the idea did not occur 
to the sender of shooting the old bird off them, though it was hardly likely he 
would consider the identification of the bird of so much importance.— 
Tuomas Carter (Burton House, Masham). 
(Perhaps the sender remembered what our correspondent appears to 
have forgotten—namely, the existence of a Wild Birds Protection Act, in 
force between the 1st March and the Ist August.—Eb.] 
Curious death of a Partridge—NMy brother, T. H. Becher, brought 
home the head, which I now forward, of a young Partridge which he found 
dead. It seems to me that the stiff clay at the end of the bill has most 
effectually sealed up the beak, and eventually caused death. When found 
there was more clay upon it, but having been brought home in the pocket 
some of it got accidentally rubbed off. I send the head, as 1 think a 
personal inspection may be interesting —W. Brcuer (Hill House, South- 
well, Notts). 
[The head in question certainly presents a singular appearance, both 
mandibles being enveloped in clay. This must have been of a very 
adhesive nature, accumulating as the bird picked up its food until, in an 
interval of repose, it became dried and hardened by the sun or wind, 
eventually preventing the beak from opening. It is curious that the bird 
did not get rid of it by wiping the beak at once after feeding, a process 
which most birds are very careful to perform.—Eb.] 
Breeding of Charadrius hiaticula.—Mr. Stevenson, writing in 1870 
(‘ Birds of Norfolk,’ vol. ii., p. 85), informs us that—* At the present time, 
in the long range of coast between Yarmouth and Salthouse, I know of no 
regular nesting-place of this Plover, although a few scattered pairs may 
possibly be met with.” I was therefore very much pleased this spring, 
1885, to find no less than three pairs breeding on the South Denes, 
Yarmouth, and I am glad to say one pair at least hatched out their young 
safely, as I saw the downy nestlings crouching amongst the gravel on 
June 29th. It is wonderful with what persistency birds return to old 
breeding-haunts, and under what difficulties they incubate. These South 
Denes of Yarmouth are the constant resort of hundreds of pedestrians. 
Fishermen are continually employed spreading out and drying their nets 
thereon, and yet a pair of Ring Plovers made their nest and hatched out 
within fifty yards of the carriage-drive. On June 28th (Sunday) several 
“Arrys” with a dog, were employed in pelting this pair of birds with stones 
as they flew round and round, or, settling on the ground, endeavoured to 
