ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 125 



but on the 19th and 20th, with a very strong wind from the 

 north, several Ducks were observed to pass. All this agrees 

 with what can be gathered from more inland sources, and 

 especially from the Broads. 



Mr. Vincent considers it to have been the worst autumn 

 season for many years for migratory Mallard in the neighbour- 

 hood of Hickling, although at one time Pochard showed up 

 strongly, there being something like fifteen hundred on the 

 Broad. 



The Winter Migration. — The arrival of the Wood-Pigeons in 

 December was viewed by our agriculturists with mixed feelings, 

 for if this bird were to increase largely it would become a pest. 

 That the Wood-Pigeon, which lays only two eggs, should be such 

 an abundant species is somewhat of a marvel, but there are 

 similar cases which might be cited ; e. g. the Puffin lays only one 

 egg, yet is so abundant that it is thought to be the dominant 

 bird in Europe. 



The absence of the Little Auk during the winters of 1913-14 

 and 1914-15 was as marked as was its superabundance in the 

 two preceding years (viz. winters of 1911-12 and 1912-13). 

 But what made it especially remarkable last winter was that on 

 the Boss-shire coast there were thousands (' Scottish Naturalist,' 

 1915, p. 69). This erratic little diver comes and goes, but we 

 are beginning to understand pretty well what governs its migra- 

 tions, which often do not extend so far south as Norfolk. 



Absence of Rarities. — The only rarities of this unproductive 

 year worth calling attention to were a Bluethroat in June, a 

 Grey-headed Wagtail in September, and a Little Bustard in 

 October. Again, we had one or two Boseate Terns on the coast, 

 which may possibly have had mates and bred. 



A dagger (t) against the name of a species indicates, as 

 before, that the recorder is responsible for its identification. 

 Bainfall for 1914: 27*64 in. (E. Knight). Prevailing direction 

 of the wind : west. 



January. 



1st. — Frost and snow; a Waxwing at Northrepps. On the 

 surface of the grass the thermometer fell to 19°. 



2nd. — [A Buddy Shelduck taken at Blakeney, and in the 

 course of the month Mr. Pashley received another t from Stiffkey, 



