Birds. 1965 



ping and counting, and, I will not say dropping a tear, yet in something akin to pity, 

 wondering how many of the fine fellows before me would fall to the gun next day. It 

 so happened that I did not walk in that direction for three or four days subsequently ; 

 but, on my next appearance, the instant I was seen every code pheasant disappeared, 

 while the hen birds continued their breakfast, as unconcerned at my presence as they 

 were wont to be in September. Had not the cocks learned from the experience of the 

 two or three days preceding, that they were the objects of pursuit to the proprietor and 

 his friends ; and therefore learned to regard man somewhat differently than they re- 

 garded him previously to October 1st? I am at a loss otherwise to account for 

 the alarm of the cocks, and the equanimity of the hens. The one inferred danger in 

 the presence of man, though incorrectly so far as I was concerned ; the other might 

 feel for the cocks, but did not fear for themselves. So may it have been with the 

 Spanish snipes. They may not have heard of the introduction into Spain of the per- 

 cussion cap ; nor have learned that with its aid the Spanish sportsman can occasion- 

 ally knock down a snipe on the wing ; and moreover that said sportsman was acquir- 

 ing a taste for such little exhibitions of skill. And, it may be, that their unwilling- 

 ness to allow me to approach them, originated in the association of ideas : they con- 

 nected an English shooting-jacket with an English gun-barrel, and perhaps inferred 

 greater danger than was wont to attend the explosion of a Spanish piece. I might 

 remark on the differences observed in some other species; but my " tailing off" has 

 already extended to an unconscionable length. 



Charles A. Bury. 

 Cheshunt, Dec. 4th, 1847. 



Ornithological and other Observations in Norfolk for the month of October, 1847. — 

 The red-necked phalarope was taken at Weybourn about the 3rd instant; and on the 

 9th the ringed or bridled guillemot (Uria lacrymans) occurred at Yarmouth. This 

 species is, we believe, new to the Norfolk list. It was observed that the white mark on 

 each cheek which forms the "bridle," is not merely a line, but an indentation or groove 

 in the feathers throughout its length. We have lately seen an egg, taken at Bridling- 

 ton, which is said, on good authority, to belong to this species. It is white, with a 

 few minute spots of dark brown irregularly disposed over its surface, and is much 

 about the size of the eggs of the common guillemot. This bird is said to breed regu- 

 larly on the rocks at Bridlington, but in a different and less accessible situation than 

 that chosen by the latter species. An example of the American bittern (Botaurus len- 

 tiginosus), another interesting addition to the birds of Norfolk, has also been killed at 

 Yarmouth ; but not having seen the bird, we are not at present able to add anything to 

 the bare mention of its occurrence. Coveys of the common partridge have, on one 

 occasion to the number of seven, and on another of ten, been lately found among the 

 boats on Yarmouth beach ; and the same species has been killed in various parts of 

 that town. Mr. Yarrell remarks that this bird is said to be migratory at the limits of 

 its geographical range, although stationary in central Europe; and quotes M. 

 Malherbe's Fauna of Sicily, to show that it visits that island every spring and autumn, 

 on its passage from North Africa to Italy and back. This being the case, we have 

 little doubt from the circumstance related above, that the common partridge is also 

 occasionally migratory with us; and the supposition is strengthened by the facts 

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