NOTES AND QUERIES. 195 



Notes from Norfolk in 1891. — I am able to add a few notes to those 

 of Mr. J. H. Gurney (p. 56). I spent a fortnight during October at Hun- 

 stanton, arriving there on the evening of the 8th. I learned from the 

 boatmen that waterfowl, during the winter of 1890 and 1891, had been very 

 abundant, Common Scoters having been numerous, and for several weeks 

 during the hard weather a large flock of Scaups had remained about a mile 

 off the pier-head. On one day a small flock of Swans appeared, from 

 which my informant secured three specimens. I am uncertain as to their 

 species, but think they were Whoopers. Another gunner had shot 

 several Swans during the frost near the harbour at Holme. Before the 

 commencement of winter a good flight of Woodcock reached the sand-hills 

 near Thornham Marsh, and many birds were secured. During my visit 

 the weather was very stormy, except on three days, the wind blowing 

 principally from the west ; from the 11th to the 19th it was very violent, and 

 was on several occasions accompanied by heavy rain. In spite of these 

 unfavourable climatic conditions, migration was evidently in progress 

 amongst the smaller birds, for Chaffinches, Linnets and Greenfinches were 

 passing in large numbers. I also noted a few flocks of Twites, and 

 twice I identified flocks of Sparrows which appeared to be immigrants. 

 Starlings and Sky Larks were not passing in anything like the numbers 

 I had observed at the corresponding period in 1889. I noted a few Mistle 

 Thrushes, but other Thrushes were absent. I was rather surprised to 

 see so much movement in progress amongst the smaller birds during the 

 prevalence of such violent gales. Most of the flocks were flying low, having 

 apparently struck the coast more to the east ; but on the roughest day of 

 all I saw many flocks actually arrive at the beach opposite the town itself. 

 These birds appeared to be flying at a great elevation until they neared the 

 shore ; possibly they found the wind less violent above. From one of these 

 flocks ot finches five Coal Tits dropped down into a dense thorn hedge. 

 Unfortunately, I did not try to shoot one of these birds ; but at the time 

 I was not aware that Messrs. Gurney and Booth had never met with this 

 species as a migrant on the Norfolk coasts (cf. Saunders' Manual Brit. Birds, 

 p. 97). To which form of Coal Tit these birds belonged, of course it 

 is now impossible to say with certainty, but it is highly probable that 

 they would have proved to be the continental variety. In Notts, during 

 October and November, many Coal Tits visit us, where at other times 

 they are scarce. I have shot several which I thought approached the 

 continental variety described by Mr. Seebohm. A friend, however, who has 

 examined them thinks they are hardly grey enough on the mantle. Perhaps 

 the movement in Notts is a comparatively local one. I saw other Coal Tits 

 with Goldcrests in the gardens near the beach at Hunstanton : I also saw 

 one or two others passing by with the flocks of finches. Amongst other 

 birds noted were a few Goldfinches, Rock Pipits, and Wheatears. Snow 



