OCCASIONAL NOTES. 393 



John's, Newfoundland ; though the fact of my having found and shot four 

 on the 23rd of July, 1857, when perched on snake-fences, was omitted from 

 my notes published in 'The Zoologist' in 1858, because the editor (Mr. 

 Newman) thought that I might have mistaken the species ! Subsequently, 

 however, when reminded that Buffon about one hundred and fifty years 

 before had remarked on this habit, my note was inserted. That the 

 American Snipe is a distinct species, though doubted by Buffon, Wilson, 

 and other writers, is a fact, seeing that it has sixteen tail-feathers, and the 

 Common Snipe of Europe but fourteen : it also varies somewhat in colour, 

 and has the second quill margined with white on the outer web, which is 

 not the case in the European species. A full and minute description of the 

 American Snipe and its plumage will be found in the notes referred to. — 

 Henry Hadfield (High Cliff, Veiitnor, I. of W.). 



Notes from Hunstanton, Norfolk. — On August 2nd Sanderlings 

 were plentiful along the shore between Hunstanton and Holme. I shot 

 five out of one flock, all mature birds in nearly full summer plumage, and, 

 had I required them, could have obtained many more. Oystercatchers 

 were very plentiful, frequenting the sands and mussel-banks : three speci- 

 mens which I shot were all mature. I saw two Turnstones in full plumage, 

 and observed Swifts frequenting the chalk-cliffs near the lighthouse, where 

 they breed in considerable numbers (see ' Birds of Norfolk,' vol. i., p. 345). 

 I got an adult female Turnstone near Holme Point on August 4th, and the 

 same day noticed three or four Knots with red breasts. On August 10th 

 I saw two large Waders, and dropped one to a long shot; it proved to be a 

 male Bar-tailed Godwit, in quite as perfect summer plumage as any I ever 

 obtained in May, in the days when that month used to afford such a rich 

 harvest of migratory waders. The following day I got a mature Arctic Tern, 

 and two young Turnstones out of a flock on the 12th. These latter birds 

 became quite common about this time, and for several mornings I much 

 enjoyed watching two which frequented tbe beach a little way beyond 

 Hunstanton Station. They were very tame, and it was most interesting to 

 see the business-like way in which they turned over the sea-weed. A more 

 appropriate name than this local name of " tangle-picker " could not be found 

 for these birds. On August 22nd I got a Sanderliug (bird of the year) and 

 two Dunlins in summer plumage. Besides the birds mentioned above, I 

 clearly identified the Heron, Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank, Common Gull, 

 Lesser Black-backed Gull, aud Little Teru. A specimen of* the White- 

 tailed Eagle, which I have not seen recorded in ' The Zoologist,' was shot 

 near Hunstanton last winter. He frequented the neighbourhood for some 

 time, especially the grounds of Hunstanton Hall, where orders were given 

 for his protection, but he left this safe retreat for the bleak sand-hills or 

 " meals" between Hunstanton and Holme ; here he was unsuccessfully shot 

 at again and again, on one occasion leaving behind him (to quote my 



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