172 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



September. — At the close of September, Mr. T. E. Gunn had 

 in another of the singular red Partridges {Perdix montana) from 

 Lenwade, and was told that a second was seen. It is remarkable 

 how persistent the race has been in this particular district, 

 where it was first recognized in December, 1896, and where no 

 protection has been given to it. It is not known to have been 

 shot in other parts of Norfolk that I am aware of. The first 

 recognition of P. montana in England appears to have been in 

 Northumberland in 1863. Whether these sprang from imported 

 eggs cannot now be ascertained, but that the Norfolk birds have 

 done so there can be little doubt. The number of Partridge's 

 eggs sent over from Hungary, South Austria, and other parts of 

 the Continent in the last thirty years have been very large, and 

 a great many have found their way to Norfolk and Suffolk. 

 Twenty-two of these red birds have now been recorded in Norfolk 

 alone, and no doubt others have been shot ; there seems no 

 reason why, if sportsmen would stay their hands for a few 

 seasons, a breed should not be established. Their colour is 

 always the same when they are adult — that is, yellow heads and 

 dark red bodies — offering a handsome contrast to the common 

 type of Partridge. I have seen no intermediate phases of 

 plumage, allowing for difference of age. 



October 15th. — A Eedwingf with a bleached tail and some 

 white on the wings shot by Mr. Catley. Another,! nearly white 

 but showing a little of the chestnut flanks, was received by 

 Mr. Gunn in December. 



November 12th.— A pure white Gull, seen by Mr. E. Pinchin 

 with some Common and Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Blakeney, 

 may have been only a Glaucous Gull or an Icelander in the 

 white stage which these Gulls pass through. 



Food of the Starling. 

 As usual, when the weather happens to be mild at Christmas, 

 Lapwings and Starlings were to be seen on the young wheat. 

 There is consideraible discrepancy of opinion among agriculturists 

 as to whether the Starling does more good or harm. In their 

 anxiety to peck out grubs they displace a great many blades of 

 wheat, most of which turn yellow and dry up, and the kernels 

 die, which naturally causes some annoyance to the farmer ; but 



