NOTES FROM NORFOLK AND SUFFOLK. 



419 



remains of the guelder-rose berries, several stones of whitethorn 

 berries, the empty skin of a lepidopterous larva two inches in 

 length, a millepede, and two blackberries. The plumage of this 

 bird was beautifully variegated with white feathers all over its 

 surface. An adult male in similar variegated plumage was 

 killed on the 3rd of the same month near Ipswich, and sent to 

 me for preservation. The food of this was guelder-rose berries, 

 small snails, and beetles. 



A curious chocolate-coloured variety of the Kook (a female 

 bird) was shot at Old Buckenham on Sept. 17th; the head, back, 

 rump, upper wing-coverts, and under parts of its plumage of a 

 deep chocolate-colour; the wings and tail brown, the feathers 

 being edged with brownish grey on the outer margins ; its bill, 

 irides, legs, toes, and claws partake of the general coloration by 

 being of a dark chocolate. 



An adult male Green Woodpecker, shot near Norwich in 

 January, had the secondary feathers and coverts of the left wing 

 of a pale brown colour. Variation in the plumage of this species, 

 I believe, seldom occurs. Another specimen, also an adult male, 

 was sent me by Mr. G. Whincop from Horsford, Sept. 6th. It 

 had only eight tail-feathers, the centre ones being curiously 

 aborted, the shafts curled up, and with only a few fibres in lieu 

 of well-developed webs. 



As the Quail is apparently not of so frequent occurrence as 

 formerly, I may mention the only example I saw last year, 

 namely, a hen-bird, which was shot at Old Buckenham on Oct. 

 17th. The ovary contained small eggs, and the stomach seeds 

 and grit. 



A dark variety of the Wigeon, an immature male, was shot 

 on Strumpshaw Broad on Oct. 21st. It had apparently but just 

 arrived, and was very tame. It would not be flushed by a dog, 

 but merely swam out of his reach. The stomach was filled with 

 grass and grit. 



An adult female Smew was shot in February on Rockland 

 Broad. The stomach contained remains of fish only. This 

 marine species seldom wanders so far inland except during severe 

 weather. I have one that was killed on the River Wensum above 

 Norwich in cold weather a few years since. 



An adult male Pochard, shot at Colney, near Norwich, early 

 in February, had the iiides of a brilliant carmine. 



