ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 97 



the bark of which had many scratches on it made by the Wood- 

 pecker's claws. The eggs are glossy white ; as many as seven 

 were on one occasion taken at Hempstead, but I cannot remember 

 now what sort of tree the hole was in. I believe this species to 

 be very omnivorous, and have even once known an instance of 

 its eating young birds, as well as the larva of the Leopard Moth. 



8th. — Great Flight of Pigeons. — For several days past large 

 arrivals of Wood-Pigeons have been noticed, probably from 

 Scotland, where I am told there have been great numbers. 

 They are destructive birds, and have this summer completely 

 cleared a garden at Northrepps of peas. Generally they prefer 

 turnips and acorns, and have no objection to acorns which have 

 begun to sprout. Their crops are very dilatable, and they can 

 easily stow away thirty or forty large acorns, or five hundred 

 black ivy berries without inconvenience, or two or three wine- 

 glasses of oats or elder berries. In fact, there is nothing they 

 will not eat — roots, green crops, cereals, from the time they are 

 sown to the time they are harvested, are at their mercy. With 

 such qualities, this increasing species should be kept in check 

 wherever practicable. 



11th. — From about 7.30 a.m., or earlier, to 8.45 a.m., Wood- 

 Pigeons at the rate of forty per minute were passing my house, 

 most of them in flocks of from twenty to forty, flying at an 

 average height of about two hundred feet, and all going N.W., 

 against the wind, which was light. I never saw so many here 

 before, and think the whole country-side must have furnished 

 contingents. It had been fine, but at 11 a.m. it began to rain, 

 and poured all day without ceasing, and by 9 o'clock next 

 morning there was 1*55 in the rain-gauge. This was the biggest 

 downpour of the year, and to it no doubt the movement of 

 Pigeons was due. 



12th. — Again, at the same time in the morning, flocks of 

 Pigeons were to be seen going N.W., but the total was very 

 much less than yesterday. Shooters were not slow in availing 

 themselves of so many " Cushat doos," and at Weston, Witching- 

 ham, and Morston bags of nearly one hundred were made in a 

 few hours. It was to this line of country that they seemed to 

 be confined, correspondents at Cromer, where there are large 

 woods, reporting only a few, while Mr. Penn, who was shooting 



Zool. 4th ser. vol. VI., March, 1902. 1 



