392 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
than they have been for some years. On Feb. 20th a flock of 
three hundred or so rose from a small beech plantation, where 
the ground had been swept under the trees, and where they fed 
on the fallen mast. I have very seldom seen them in our parish 
before. Some of them continued in the wood for several weeks. 
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER.— There is a small ‘broad,’ called 
“ Sutton broad,” where this little bird is found. A nest taken in 
June was on the ground, or only just raised above it, in the marsh 
grass, cut by mowers as a rank sort of hay; it contained four 
eggs, and was composed externally of moss. Another nest, 
taken not far off, though on another water, contained four eggs, 
and was composed externally and internally of moss, and was 
much more compact than is usually the case, I believe; but as these 
are the only nests I ever saw, I am not sure about that point. 
GoLDEN ORI0LE.—On May 20th a male Golden Oriole was 
singing beautifully, and was watched for some time by J. Nudd, 
at Hickling, a short distance from the “broad.” His accurate 
description of it left not the least doubt as to its species. 
Srocxk Dove.—This bird is not particularly common in 
North Norfolk; but during and just before the hard weather 
which prevailed last February some migratory flocks, which had 
evidently been driven south, made their appearance. Eleven 
were netted at Northrepps on Jan. 26th, and seventeen more on 
Feb. lst; one was shot on the 5th; and another, with six Wood 
Pigeons, caught on the 15th. On the 22nd, forty-four Wood 
Pigeons and twelve Stock Doves were caught alive at Hempstead ; 
and on March 8rd, fifty Stock Doves, eleven Wood Pigeons, 
sixty-seven Rooks, and three Pheasants were all caught at the 
same time. The ground was covered with snow, and they were 
evidently very hungry, owing to their inability to procure food. 
Sniez.—An odd rufous variety of the Common Snipe was 
shot at Cromer, about half a mile from the sea, on Feb. 1st, and 
is now in the possession of the Rey. A.J. Richards, of Farlington, 
Hampshire. The rufous tinge was very strong, especially about 
the neck; and the pattern of the dorsal plumage was somewhat 
different from the normal type. Mr. Richards says it weighed 
five ounces, and was very sluggish; much more like a Jack Snipe 
than a common one. It approximated to the Sussex variety, 
described in ‘ The Zoologist’ (1884, p. 339), but was not so dark. 
It certainly is not the S. russata of Gould. 
