64 



THE NATURALIST. 



the 21st of May. The entire surface of its plumage is of a uniform slate 

 colour somewhat inclining to a brownish tint, the feathers of its upper wing 

 coverts are narrowly margined with a darker shade. 



EARITIES. 



Peregrine Falcon. A nice male was obtained on the 2nd of March, 

 at Eeedham, its entire length from beak to tail was seventeen inches ; and 

 from tip to tip of its extended wings thirty-eight inches ; wing from carpal 

 joint to tip twelve and a half inches. 



Marsh Harrier. An adult pair of these birds was killed by a marsh- 

 man at Hickling, in April last ; the male on the 13th, and the female on the 

 20th. About a fortnight afterwards a second pair of old birds of the same 

 species made their appearance in the same locality, and in all probability 

 with the intention of supplying the place of their predecessors ; however, 

 as soon as their presence was noticed they shared the fate of the former 

 occupants. The female individual of the first mentioned pair, measured 

 twenty-one and a half inches from beak to tail ; and fifteen and a half inches 

 in the wing from the carpal joint to tip. Their food appeared to consist 

 principally of leverets, small birds, &c., an entire leg of the former I found 

 in the stomach of one of the males. I also noticed the gizzard of some small 

 insectivorous bird in one of them, they appeared to have subsisted well since 

 their arrival, as their bodies were quite loaded with fat. A fifth individual 

 of this species, a female, Avas killed on Eanworth Broad, yesterday. 



Hoopoe. April 22nd, a splendid mature female was shot in Mr. Read's 

 garden at Great Plumstead, near jSTorwich. It was preserved by Mr. Pear. 



Snow Bunting. An old male of this species, died a few days since out 

 of the aviary of Mr. Taylor, a gentleman residing in this cit}^ It was an 

 exceedingly fine example ; its weight being full two ounces. Length from 

 beak to tail (both inclusive) seven inches ; the colour of the beak of 

 Emheriza nivalis, in winter is of a pale yellow, which in summer changes to 

 that of a beautiful deep bluish black. The above example was very fat, and 

 appeared in a remarkably good state of plumage for a confined bird, indeed 

 when I first observed it I thought it a fresh captured specimen. 



Roller. A most magnificent specimen, a mature male of this very rare 

 species to the British Isles, occurred off the coast of Yarmouth, about the 

 24th inst. It was apparently directing its course to that locality, but being 

 fatigued by its journey it alighted on the rigging of a ship a short distance 

 out at sea in the Yarmouth Roads ; one of the sailors captured it while in 



