5160 Birds. 



eggs, having been found near Prudhoe. — Thomas John Bold; Angus Court, Bigg 

 Market, Neivcastle-on-Tyne, June 10, 1856. 



Golden Oriole near Norwich. — A pair of these beautiful birds were shot about the 

 1 1th of last month, at Lakenham. The male is in full rich adult plumage, having 

 probably completed his third year. — H. Stevenson ; Norwich, June 7, 1856. 



Note on the Broadbilled Sandpiper in Norfolk. — A male of this very rare species 

 was killed during last month at Yarmouth : the plumage is apparently in half change. 

 — Id.; June 3, 1856. 



Late Appearance of the Longtailed Duck and Common Scoter. — An adult male of 

 the longtailed duck, in full summer plumage, was shot on Hickling Broad about the 

 beginning of this month, the first instance I have yet met with of this bird being seen 

 in Norfolk during the summer: the occurrence appears the more remarkable from this 

 species not being numerous on this coast even in winter. Adult birds appear only in 

 very sharp weather. I have just seen in the flesh another adult male of the common 

 scoter, shot on the 11th, at Scotton, where for some days it had frequented a piece of 

 ornamental water. — Id. ; June 12, 1856. 



Note on SavPs Warbler and on a Variety of the Grasshopper Warbler. — A male of 

 this very rare species was shot on the 7th of this month, on the same Broad that has 

 for the last three years afforded me specimens of the grasshopper warbler. The last 

 occurrence of this bird in Norfolk that I am aware of was in 1843, when a pair were 

 killed at South Walsham, one of which is now in the Norwich Museum, together with 

 a specimen taken fifty years ago, the first ever known to have occurred in this county. 

 Although much resembling the reed warbler, this species may be at once distinguished 

 by its larger size and darker feathers on the under parts. I also observe, in this spe- 

 cimen, a number of minute brown spots on the throat, a peculiarity which I have found 

 to distinguish more or less all males of the grasshopper warbler, being perceptible even 

 in a bird of the year. The note of the Savi's warbler has been said to resemble that 

 of the grasshopper warbler, and I may here add that the bird in question was mistaken, 

 by its " creaking noise," for one of the more numerous species. Since writing the 

 above I have received a male specimen of the grasshopper warbler which differs from 

 the general plumage in having a yellow tinge all over the under parts, somewhat re- 

 sembling the willow wren, whilst the back and wings are also brighter. Out of many 

 specimens I have only once before met with this variety, as in this instance a male 

 bird, somewhat under the usual size. I am at a loss to determine whether this is sim- 

 ply a variety or a plumage peculiar to a certain age. — Id. ; June 14, 1856. 



Occurrence of the Black Stork in Kent. — Being at Lydd, in Kent, on the 21st of 

 May, I saw at the shop of a bird-preserver there, of the name of George Gell, a fine 

 specimen of the black stork, which had been killed, on or about May 5lh, at a place 

 called Fairfield Brae, near Brewnet, and but a few miles from Lydd. The account 

 which he gave me of the capture of the bird was the following: — Two labourers had 

 noticed what they supposed to be a very big heron about a certain spot for three weeks: 

 at last one said to the other, " Heron makes an uncommon pudding, let us try to shoot 

 it." The attempt was made and the bird shot, and forwarded by the person into whose 

 hands it fell to Mr. Gell to preserve. The plumage of the bird was very bright, and 

 there were no signs about it of its ever having been in confinement. — R. N. Dennis; 

 1 1 , Penrose Terrace, Penzance, Cornwall, May 30, 1 856. 



