4946 Birds, 



Occurrence of the Srn Eagle (Haliaetus albicilla) in Norfolk. — A fine specimen of 

 this noble bird was shot at the beginning of this month near Ormesby Broad. Tt 

 proves to be a female; apparently, by the beak and plumage, in its second year. — 

 H. Stevenson; Norwich, December 12, 1855. 



Note on the Hawfinch breeding in Norfolk.— 1 am indebted to Mr. King, bailiff to 

 Lord Wodehouse, at Kimberley, for the following particulars respecting these birds : no 

 doubt careful observation would discover them in many localities as suited to their 

 habits, although, as Mr. Doubleday observes of those in Epping Forest, their extreme 

 shyness and quick movements render them very difficult of approach. About the latter 

 end (5f June last Mr. King, who lives close by the park, observed an old bird of this 

 species and three young ones on a greengage-tree in his garden : on fetching his gun 

 he succeeded in shooting one of the young birds, but has never seen anything of the 

 others since. This was the first time he had observed them during the summer; in 

 sharp weather he has frequently seen them on some large whitethorn trees in the park, 

 a very favourite resort of the hawfinch. I have examined the captured specimen, which 

 agrees very nearly indeed with Mr. Yarrell's description of the immature plumage; 

 the head, neck and upper parts yellowish olive-brown and the throat yellow, but with 

 no apparent indication of the black patch common to both sexes in an adult state. It 

 is to be hoped that another summer may bring further proof in the appearance of a 

 nest amongst the whitethorn bushes. I am aware of no previous record of their 

 breeding in this county. — Id., December 10, 1855. 



Occurrence of the Great Plover and Spotted Crake in Devonshire. — On the 24th of 

 last month I bought an adult specimen of the great plover or thick-knee (CEdicnemus 

 crepitans) in the Plymouth market, which was killed in the neighbourhood. T believe 

 it is not generally known, but which from repeated examination I have found to be the 

 case, that the enlargement of the knee-joints and tarsi of this species is confined to 

 young birds only. A similar peculiarity of formation I have also observed to exist in 

 the legs of the young green sandpiper. A fine example of the spotted crake (Crex por- 

 zand) was obtained in the vicinity of Plymouth a short time since, and others were seen 

 in the same locality. — John Gatcombe ; Wyndham Place, Plymouth, December 3, 1855. 



Occurrence of the Stilt Plover (Himantopus melanopterus) at Bosham, in Sussex. — 

 A magnificent specimen of this very rare bird was shot and preserved during the 

 present month at Bosham, in Sussex, by Mr. A. Cheeseman : its legs measured eight 

 inches in length, and its weight was but 4j ounces. — Edward Newman. 



Occurrence of the Velvet Scoter at the Land's End.— A specimen of this duck, in 

 very perfect plumage, was captured about ten days since at Whitsand Bay, near the 

 Land's End : it is a bird of rare occurrence on the Cornish coast. — Edward Hearle 

 Rodd ; Penzance, November 26, 1855. 



Remarkable Flight of Woodcocks. — The continuance of the north-east winds to the 

 end of October, with a morning moon, brought a large flight of woodcocks in these 

 parts, and I may say pretty generally throughout Cornwall. A young farmer in the 

 parish of St. Buryan, within a few miles of the Land's End, killed fifty-four in one 

 weel<, and vast numbers were killed in various directions throughout the district. By 

 way of showing the extent of this great southern migratory movement, I may mention 

 that Captain Tower, who lately was on a visit to Mr. Smith at Trescoe Abbey, Scilly, 

 shot in one day thirty-nine woodcocks. All these early great flights of woodcocks 

 consist, I have no doubt, of the main body, whose destination is the remoter southern 

 latitudes ; some, no doubt, remaining in the northern countries. The principal bulk, 



