1966 Birds. 



which we have elsewhere noticed, (Zool. 1317) that its congener, the red-legged par- 

 tridge, sometimes exhibits the same propensity. We are assured by an intelligent and 

 highly respectable correspondent at Yarmouth, that late on the evening preceding the 

 day on which the locusts were found in considerable numbers about that place, he 

 heard a kind of confused humming in the air, which he afterwards confidently attri- 

 buted to the noise made by the passage of the flight of those insects, then passing over- 

 head. An example of the peregrine falcon (the young female of the year) has been 

 taken near Yarmouth. — /. H. Gurney, W. R. Fisher ; October, 1847. 



Ornithological Notices in Norfolk for November, 1847. — Towards the end of last 

 month a female spoonbill was killed at Salthouse ; this bird is said to have resorted, at 

 intervals, to a marsh at that place for nearly four months previous to its capture. An 

 immature male specimen of the white-headed eagle was shot at Westwick on the 10th 

 instant; in its stomach were found the remains of a herring. About the same time a 

 pair of waxen chatterers were killed at Runton, near Cromer ; and another pair of the 

 same species were killed at Horsea about the end of the month. Shortly after the 

 middle of the month a gray lag goose (male) was also killed at Horsea, being the first 

 Norfolk specimen of that species which has come under our notice in a recent state. 

 And about the same time an immature glaucous gull occurred at Horsea. — J. H. 

 Gurney, William R. Fisher ; November, 1847. 



Rare Birds in Derbyshire. — In February, 1845, I saw the following individuals at 

 Mr. Cook's Museum, Derby : — a dotterell, killed near Twyford ; a rose-colored pastor, 

 shot near Matlock ; a great northern diver, shot off the Derwent near Derby ; and a 

 fire-crested Regulus that had been killed some years ago in the vicinity of Derby. — 

 J. J. Briggs ; Derby. 



Habit of the Young Cuckoiv. — The following anecdote communicated to me by Mr. 

 Dunn, the intelligent steward of James Clayfield Ireland, Esq., Brislington Hall, will 

 probably interest many of your readers. In the nest of a hedge-sparrow, some years 

 ago, was deposited an unusual egg. In process of time this was hatched, and, by some 

 means, before the bird's own eggs. The stranger was of a singular form " exactly like 

 a toad, ivith a deep cavity in its back" One morning, while looking into the nest, he 

 was struck by observing this unfledged creature wriggling about until it had got one of 

 the eggs into the hollow in the back, when, by a sudden jerk, it threw it out of the 

 nest. The egg was repeatedly replaced, when the same means were had recourse to 

 for its ejectment. I am indebted for this fact to the circumstance of an egg of the 

 cuckow having been deposited this year in the nest of a robin, built in a hole of a wall 

 near Rose Cottage, Brislington, the residence of the Rev. R. Astley. This had also 

 ejected the natural possessors, possibly by the same means : the bird was carefully 

 watched until fully fledged, when it was for some time secured by a sort of cage : the 

 robin continuing to feed it with maternal care. It made its escape towards the end of 

 June, remaining for a day or two in one of the high trees near the cottage. — John 

 Sircom, Jun. ; Brislington, October 4th, 1847. 



Note on the occurrence of Turdus minor of Latham, in Belgium. — Having received 

 a few days since from Namur a present of several dozen thrushes and fieldfares des- 

 tined for the table, I had the curiosity to inspect the parcel before passing it to the 

 cook. One of the birds, by its small size, immediately attracted my attention. A 

 nearer investigation showed me that it was very distinct from all our other indigenous 

 species of the genus Turdus, so that I took a description of it, after which I had it 

 carefully stuffed. Being desirous to discover its name, I perused attentively all the 



