Birds. 1601 



Notice of ornithological occurrence/! in Norfolk, for December, 1846. — A specimen 

 of the nuthatch, perfectly white, was killed at Lyng, near Keepham, early in this 

 month. Several instances have come to our knowledge of the occurrence of the quail 

 in various parts of the county. Amongst them we may refer to examples taken at 

 Reedham, on the 11th inst. ; at Bawburgh, on the 14th ; near Loddon, (male and 

 female) on the 19th ; and near Norwich, on the 23rd. The Norfolk plover, we are in- 

 formed, was also taken about the 15th inst. at Ludham. The occurrence of these 

 species, especially of the last, is unusual at this season of the year. A moorhen, ex- 

 hibiting a singular monstrosity in each foot, was killed near Pulham, about the 26th 

 inst. Each of the hind toes of this bird possesses a second claw, which, on the right 

 foot merely springs from about the middle of the true toe, but in the left, is attached 

 to a second toe, which proceeds from the original one, about half-way from its junction 

 with the tarsus. The supplemental toe and claws are in each case attached to the 

 outside of the true hind toe. Monstrosities of this kind though comparatively common 

 amongst domesticated animals, seldom occur in those which are in a wild state, and 

 it may be remarked as bearing upon the present case, that (although the bird in ques- 

 tion appears to have been wild) the moorhen is a species easily domesticated, and 

 which requires little encouragement to induce it to approach the habitations of man. 

 More than one specimen of the little grebe was taken about the 14th inst. in the 

 streets of Norwich, and on the 23rd, a gentleman who was passing about 11 o'clock at 

 night along the street, was surprised by a bird of this species suddenly striking against 

 the wall near a gas-lamp which was above him, and immediately afterwards falling 

 upon his head. The bird was picked up, but died on the following day. The lamp 

 to which it appeared to have directed its course, is fixed to a wall facing the south- 

 east, from which quarter a sharp gale was blowing at the time. That uncertain 

 visiter, the little auk, has also been taken in numerous instances ; at Sculthorpeon the 

 3rd inst. ; at Norwich on the 5th ; at Horsey on the 7th; at Cromer and Stratton 

 Strawless on the 17th ; and at Salthouse and Fakenham on the 18th and 19th ; with 

 several others. It may be observed, that several of these places are at some distance 

 from the sea ; and it is curious that all the specimens which we have had an oppor- 

 tunity of examining, are at this early period assuming the mottled appearance on the 

 throat, which indicates the approach of the black plumage of the breeding season. We 

 are also informed, that the Iceland gull in adult plumage, was taken about the 19th of 

 the month.— J. H. Gurney ; William R. Fisher ; Z\st December, 1846. 



Some account of a Tame Partridge. — The following account of a very extraordinary 

 pet, a tame partridge, will be interesting to readers of the ' Zoologist.' I was not 

 myself acquainted with the bird, but heard of it, I think during its life, from very in- 

 timate friends of its mistress, whose brief notice below, of its habits and peculiarities, 

 mentions, I have reason to believe, but a portion only of those amusing traits by which 

 it was distinguished. — " On the 5th July, 1839, 1 received a small hamper, containing 

 a parcel of cotton, wool, in the midst of which was a young partridge, about a davold. 

 The little wild thing could not be induced to eat, so I was obliged to feed it with 

 boiled rice. I never expected to bring it up, having always heard that to handle a 

 partridge was a sure way to destroy it ; but there is no rule without an exception, and 

 this little creature was hardly ever out of my hands. It soon became quite tame, and 

 whenever I put my hands together before it, it would creep in, and go to sleep very 

 well contented. Warmth being indispensable, I used to pin it up in fleecy-hosierv 

 for the night, and in the morning fed it quite early, leaving it to sleep again. Rice, 

 V F 



