tii THE ZOOLOGIST. 



alpestris, captured near Dieppe, whose lower surfaces were 

 discoloured by dark brown patches — akin, possibly, to the human 

 melanism. And it may be doubted whether here the normal 

 health of the individual was in any way affected. 



AUTUMN NOTES FROM THE NORFOLK COAST, 1890. 

 By 0. V. Aplin, M.B.O.U. 



I was at Cley from the 1st to the 9th September, 1890, 

 without seeing any remarkable migration of small birds, although 

 this is usually the best time for meeting with the rarer migrants 

 on that coast. My brother, Mr. F. C. Aplin, who was there a 

 week earlier and a few days later, only noticed one decided case 

 of immigration, viz. on August 29th, when there were a great 

 many Willow Wrens and one or two Redstarts in the scrub. After 

 I left I had news of a considerable "rush" of small birds, &c, 

 about the 20th Sept., comprising Pied Flycatchers, Ring Ouzels, 

 Garden Warblers, Willow Wrens, Chiffchaff, as well as Peregrines, 

 Merlins, and some rarer species, of the occurrence of which I hope 

 their fortunate captors will not keep ornithologists in ignorance. 

 No Bluethroats, however, so far as I can learn, were observed 

 this year, the explanation of which is probably that, in the 

 absence of winds favourable to their striking the English shores, 

 these birds passed straight on to their southern winter quarters. 

 The unfavourable winds and fine summer-like weather of 

 September probably also accounts for the comparatively small 

 number of early autumn migratory land-birds which were observed 

 here last season, and for the short time they stayed. 



During the time that I was at Cley the wind and weather, 

 although thoroughly enjoyable for boating and lying up to watch, 

 or wait for, the birds, was most unpromising for bringing in any 

 migrants or getting near the shore-birds which were already in 

 the marsh. What waders we saw were accordingly wild, though 

 high tides on the first few days helped us considerably. 



The following diary of the weather speaks for itself: — 

 1st, bright, still and hot. 2nd, S.W., moderate, overcast. 3rd, 

 S.W.— W., moderate to very light ; dull. 4th, S.W.— W., light; 

 dull, wet until 2 or ') p.m., then dull, hot and close. 5th, N.W., 



