NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 369 



was placed in a bed of Mercurialis perennis, in a plantation at 

 Weston. The four eggs were just chipped when he saw -them. 



Hybrid Dove. — On the 14th of May, 1865, a lrybrid Dove — 

 a cross between Columba turtur and C. risoria — was caught in my 

 garden in the Newmarket Road, and as no owner could be found 

 for it at the time, was kept in my house as a cage-pet till its death, , 

 on the 14th of May, 1880, just fifteen years to a day from the date 

 of its capture. How old this bird was when I first had it, I have 

 no means of judging, as it was then in fully adult plumage, and 

 continued in perfect health till within a week of its death, which 

 was caused by a severe cold affecting the lungs, but without 

 showing the slightest indication of failing powers from advanced 

 age. This bird exhibited many characteristics of both parents in 

 its plumage, but inclining more particularly to C. turtur in the 

 usual patch of black and white feathers on either side of the neck. 

 Its note was peculiar, having a loud and resonant " coo," differing 

 from that of either the domestic or migratory Dove ; it was said 

 by some people to resemble the note of the Cuckoo. 



Tufted Duck and Pochard. — Mr. W. E. Clarke com- 

 municated to me the fact that both these species, with Shovellers, 

 were found nesting on the various meres of the Wretham estate, 

 between the 16th and 19th of May. Two pairs of Tufted Ducks 

 were seen, and, on the 17th, a nest of six eggs was found, the old 

 bird rising close by. The nest itself was composed of grass, but 

 without down, and was placed in a tuft of herbage within six 

 yards of the water's edge. Of Pochards, fifteen cock birds were 

 counted on two of the meres, and two nests of six and seven eggs, 

 respectively, were found on a small island on one of them on the 

 19th. Shovellers were numerous, and a nest of six eggs was 

 discovered on the same island, and another on the heath, half a 

 mile from the water, which contained eight eggs. 



Great Crested Grebe. — Many pairs of these birds were met 

 with on the different pieces of water, especially on the Decoy mere, 

 affording sheltering reeds, but only one nest was found, with three 

 eggs partly incubated. 



Common Sandpiper. — The same informant states that he saw 

 a pair of these birds on the 17th, and another pair on the 19th, on 

 the margins of two of the meres on the open heath, which, from 

 so late an appearance, seemed to suggest their remaining to breed. 

 This species, however, has never been known to nest in Norfolk. 



3 B 



