332 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



In this instance a winged Redshank fell into the water, dived under 

 a boat, and appeared swimming buoyantly on the other side. 



I have often tried to get a sight of the Heron swimming, but 

 have never yet succeeded in doing so. Though he sometimes 

 wades into such deep water that at first sight it appears as if he 

 must be afloat, a careful inspection of his mode of progression 

 has always, in my case, shown that he could still feel the bottom, 

 and was in reality walking. When the mud is all covered with 

 water, and the river appears to the casual observer as one wide, 

 unbroken sheet of water, of unknown depth, it is an interesting 

 sight to see a Heron, after flapping lazily along, suddenly bring 

 up, and without hesitation pitch in the middle of the river. Just 

 before alighting, down go his legs, and in an instant he is standing 

 firmly at a spot where a stranger would perhaps as soon expect 

 to see a loaded barge pass. 



OENITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 

 By J. H. Gurney, F.L.S. 



The winter of 1889-90, and more particularly January, was 

 signalized by the appearance of more Hawfinches than have been 

 seen here for many years. One Norwich birdstuffer, Mr. Cole, 

 had over fifty sent to him. Mr. Gunn had about thirty, including 

 one pied on the head ; and Mr. Roberts had fifteen. Seen on 

 the wing they show a good deal of white, and their flight strikes 

 an observer as slow ; seen on a lawn they progress by hops, with 

 their clumsy and disproportionate necks stretched out, as different 

 as can be .from the short runs which a Thrush takes. A good 

 many remained through February and March, and the last one 

 of which I have any note was on April 9th, by which time the 

 bill — which in the earlier ones was conspicuously white — was 

 changed to dark. 



On February 24th I had the pleasure of a walk round 

 Holkam Lake with Colonel Feilden. This fine piece of water is 

 1056 yards in length ; and Lord Leicester, taking a great interest 

 in the wildfowl which go there, has not allowed a gun to be fired 

 for many years. In consequence it is frequented all the winter 

 by two or three thousand ducks, which number is nearly doubled 

 if it is stormy at sea. We saw three Smews, seventeen 



