Notes From Norfolk. 85 



headed Porphyrio was shot at Stoke Ferry this month, which had 

 most likely escaped from confinement in the North of Ireland 

 (vide ■ Field,' April 29th, 1893). 



From Mr. G. Smith I learn that a young Iceland Gull, which 

 he identified by its measurements, was shot at Yarmouth on Dec. 

 6th, and to him also I am indebted for the information that a 

 Greater Shearwater was obtained at Caister on the 22nd, and 

 another Iceland Gull at Scratby on the 28th. I have since had 

 the pleasure of inspecting all three. The Shearwater is a very 

 dark bird above, and pure white beneath, without a smoky patch 

 on the belly. The Iceland Gulls are, from their size and measure- 

 ments, undoubted. One of them is a bird of the year, but the other 

 is older, and is white all over, except a tinge of brown and some 

 brown chequering on the secondaries. There has been a small 

 migration of them this year to the east coast. The Greater 

 Shearwater is an addition to our county list, and the fourth new 

 species which has been recognised since the completion of * The 

 Birds of Norfolk.* 24th. — A white, or rather very pale, variety of 

 the Dunlin was shot at Wells by Mr. F. D. Wheeler, with which 

 the list of rarities for 1892 concludes. 



Before passing on to another year, I may remark that the 

 supposed " Bimaculated Duck" taken in Suffolk in January (Zool. 

 1892, p. 110), judging from a very good picture of it, was a hybrid 

 between a Pintail and a Wild Duck. It has now passed into the 

 possession of M. Suchetet, who is making a study of all wild 

 hybrids, and was good enough to send the painting for my 

 inspection. 



Jan. 1st, 1893. — Five Bewick's Swans were shot at Yarmouth 

 (Smith), and eight others were seen. 2nd. — Thousands of Wood 

 Pigeons appeared at Yarmouth (Smith). 6th. — A Little Gull at 

 Yarmouth (Smith). 9th. — A Scoter, which must have lost itself, 

 was shot at Northrepps, flying over a wood half-a-mile from the 

 sea. 10th. — A Wellingtonia and a Japanese Cyprus were barked 

 by Green Woodpeckers until their stems became quite red, the 

 colour of the under fibre, and the trees were in danger of perishing. 

 22nd. A Russian Bullfinch (Pyrrhula major, Brehm) was shot on 

 Caister denes. Its measurements exceeded those of a common Bull* 

 finch considerably :' — thus, length 5*7 ; expanse of wing 9*7; wing 

 from carpus 3*8 (c/. Trans. Norfolk Nat. Soc. p. 421). P, major 

 is more easily separable than many so-called subspecies, and it is 



