ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 139 



never seen a nest with more than four. I omitted to state last 

 year that from a Tawny Owl, shot near Norwich, Mr. Eoberts took 

 four large beetles,t identified by Mr. H. Thouless as Geotrupes 

 spiniger and G. stercorarius. 



13th.— During July Mr. T. E. Gunn pointed out a Barn-Owl t 

 heavily spotted on the flanks, belly and lower chest, which had 

 been sent in from North Walsham, remarking that in a long 

 experience he had invariably found that the spotted ones were 

 females. I have heard this before, and am surprised not to 

 see it alluded to in any of our standard works as a sexual 

 distinction. 



23rd. — Mr. W. Eowan, who has just returned from a stay at 

 Blakeney Point, writes : — " Hardly a day went by without seeing 

 or hearing some Sandwich Terns, but I could not find a nest. 

 The Common Terns are exceptionally strong this year, and I 

 think seven hundred pairs is a safe estimate, for we measured 

 close on six hundred clutches of eggs, and left many untouched." 



August. 



1st. — A young Great Crested Grebe which was accidentally 

 killed in August was dissected by Mr. F. Chasen and found to 

 contain nearly three hundred Grebes' feathers, presumably pro- 

 vided by its parents (at all events in part), as well as several 

 wing-cases of a small Water-Beetle. No satisfactory explanation 

 of these feathers in Grebes has ever been offered, but they must 

 be intended to facilitate digestion and act as a pad against fish- 

 bones, for they can possess no nutriment in themselves. It may 

 be noticed that the feathers drop off a Grebe's body on a very 

 slight touch, so as to be obtainable without the slightest pain 

 when required by the bird. 



15th. — Common Sandpiper t at Keswick. Young Flycatchers 

 and flocks of young Starlings about. Young wild Ducks strong 

 on the wing. 



17th. — A Spoonbill on Kelling beach (H. Pashley). 



20th. — Very early in the morning— about 3 a.m. -eight Green 

 Sandpipers (too many to be one family) were seen by Miss 

 Turner from her observation tent to alight on the edge of the 

 lake at Melton Constable, where they at once began a morning 

 toilet of bathing and preening. 



m2 



