ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 103 



The repeated occurrence of Shovelers in the winter has been 

 already remarked. Mr. Southwell thinks they are increasing in 

 summer, and certainly the number of egg-shells in a nest testify 

 to their prolificacy. Of the seven Ducks which commonly breed 

 in Norfolk, the Garganey Teal is the only one which is never 

 seen in winter; yet Norfolk is far from being its northern 

 breeding limit. I have seen as many as nine eggs in a Garganey 

 Teal's nest, and eleven in a Shoveler's. 



27th. — A very early Thrush's nest at Keswick with three 

 eggs, and another nest with one — undersized eggs in both cases; 

 and a Robin's nest quite ready, in spite of slight frosts every 

 night sufficient to brown the wheat. A Wild Duck reported to be 

 already sitting at Shottesham, many Siskins in our "Rookery," 

 and a Redpoll apparently searching for a nesting-place ; Rooks 

 also examining trees, and quantities of Thrushes on the fields. 

 Partridges and Wood-Pigeons proved the unprecedented mildness 

 of the weather by being paired long ago, although there was snow 

 not far away. Five Shovelers at Hickling (Bird) ; not safe from 

 the gunners yet. 



March. 



My correspondent, Mr. Bird, writes from the Broads: — "An 

 old male Golden-Eye still about, four pairs of Bearded Tits 

 (good news), one Coot's nest half-built, and two others com- 

 menced ; Water-Rails very noisy all day." Four days later came 

 the snowstorm which wrought such destruction among the Lap- 

 wings in Scotland (Zool. 1899, p. 225). At once all work on my 

 farm was stopped, and the wretched Thrushes, some of which 

 had only just come northwards, crowded on to the few bits of 

 grass still uncovered by the snow. In spite of this the Wheatear 

 appeared at Beachamwell on the 22nd (R. C. Nightingale), a day 

 later than Mr. Haigh first saw it in Lincolnshire. 



23rd. — Mr. Bird found a Long-eared Owl sitting on five eggs 

 among some brakes, which was remarkable after such a downfall 

 of sleet and snow, much of which was still on the ground, and 

 also from the circumstance of the nest being on the ground, the 

 nests of this species which I have seen having always been in a 

 tree, the silver-fir by preference. 



28th. — Two Bramblings with black chins recently taken at 

 Yarmouth ; Mr, Lowne, who kept one of them, found that the 



