132 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



mud-edge in the morning, and two bagged and another shot from 

 a creek in the afternoon, were all still entirely in dark plumage. 

 Five Mallards flying west along the beach. One Kittiwake seen. 

 Two Stonechats in scrub. 



Oct. 6th. Wind N. to N.W., light. No Godwit seen, nor any 

 after this date. Perhaps more Grey Plover ; a decided increase 

 in Larks, great numbers on the marsh. A small " charm " of Gold- 

 finches among the thistles in a field inside the east bank ; one 

 Stonechat in the gorse ; no small birds about the scrub. An old 

 Ringed Plover shot to-day, from a small party of these birds and 

 Dunlin, proved to be an example of the small dark race (Mgialitis 

 intermedia) ; it was the only fully adult bird shot ; most of 

 them were assuming the black on the breast. A Great Black- 

 backed Gull, hard hit at flight time last night, was secured by a 

 gunner further along the bank, and purchased a day or two after ; 

 it is an exceptionally large bird, although not quite in adult 

 plumage, the first primary having a subterminal white bar, and 

 the bill wanting the full colours. 



Oct. 7th. Wind W.N.W. to W. , moderate, going to calm at 

 sundown. Quite a choppy sea in the channel as we dropped down 

 on the ebb. Passing down close to the Blakeney side a large 

 Peregrine rose from the marsh. Increase of Meadow Pipits, 

 many about the drier parts near the Watch-house ; one shot was 

 rather warmly tinted on the under parts. The gunner with us 

 shot at a Purple Sandpiper on Morston flats. A bunch of sixteen 

 Golden Plovers and another little one of four or five passing east, 

 rather high, in morning. A large flock of Curlew, about a 

 hundred, on the Morston side. Grey Crows more numerous, 

 twelve seen flying in from sea about 10 a. m. — the first day any 

 number seen. About sixty Black-headed Gulls flying down the 

 Harbour in the afternoon, and three Wigeon came in earlier in 

 the day and remained for some time about the Harbour. Seven 

 Mallards passing west. Two or three Reed Buntings in the scrub, 

 the first seen there. 



Oct. 8th. Close morning. Wind then to E. and fresher, much 

 colder and showers. Three Wheatears among the gorse on 

 Blakeney side, also two "charms" of Goldfinches of twenty-five 

 and ten. A single Golden Plover on the marsh. A flock of Knot 

 and with them nine Grey Plovers. Some more Crows coming in. 

 A Curlew Sandpiper, in company with a Dunlin, flew past the 



