ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLE. 123 
stayed on a smack in a harbour well situated for making 
observations, says that from Sept. 10th to the 80th he never 
saw fewer migratory birds on the Norfolk coast. The fact was, 
the weather was too fine. What bring us oversea migrants, 
and among them rarities from Russia, and even from Asia, 
are mist, rain, and strong head-winds. The birds travel by night, 
and unless we have these unsettled conditions of weather they 
pass over Norfolk and its shores without alighting. Birds 
probably travel at an immense height, and if all goes favourably 
the phenomena of migration do not come under human ken at 
all; millions may pass our shores in a single night without 
anyone being the wiser, or suspecting their presence. However, 
on the night of Sept. 12th Mr. F. Penrose recorded a move- 
ment of small dimensions, which included an Icterine Warbler 
(‘British Birds,’ v. p. 188), and there was another rush on 
Sept. 30th, and again on Oct. 5th. During October a nephew 
of Mr. Arthur Patterson, who is stationed on the ‘‘ Leman and 
Ower”’ light-vessel, sent his uncle some interesting memoranda 
on birds, in which he reported visitations from six Kestrels, a 
Barn-Owl, a Short-eared:- Owl, a Water-Rail, a Jackdaw, a 
Brambling, a Greenfinch, and a few Starlings. Subsequently 
he furnished Mr. Patterson with several more observations :— 
Nov. 28th, a Starling or two; 29th, about thirty Snow-Buntings, 
one Lark, one Yellow Bunting, two Tree-Sparrows, and three 
Starlings ; 30th, Grey Linnet, Greenfinch, Thrush, and several 
Chaffinches; Dec. 4th, about 2 p.m., a flock of about twenty 
Yellow Buntings came on board, and a flock of Crows passed 
over, high up. Mr. Paston, however, finds that since the lights 
were made to revolve on the ‘‘ Leman and Ower”’ Sky-Larks 
have been less attracted. Birds of prey were by no means 
numerous, nor are they likely to be so when Government rewards 
are offered for their destruction in Norway.* Three Rough-legged 
Buzzards, a Peregrine Falcon, a Marsh-Harrier, and two Merlins 
** Probably a portion of those which we used to get in Norfolk came from 
the province of Trondhjem, where premiums have been paid in twelve months 
on one hundred and eight Eagles, besides other birds (ef. ‘ Field,’ Aug. 26th, 
1905). When I was in Romsdal I found the inhabitants thought this head- 
money well worth earning. Prof. Collett has memorialised the Storthing 
at Christiania in favour of the Common Buzzard, the Rough-legged Buzzard, 
and the Snow-Owl, but, I am afraid to the present, in vain. : 
L 
