GUNN : ORNITHOLOGY OF NORFOLK. 



27 



white, under surface of its wings and tail feathers of a pale yellowish, brown, 

 belly, white ; flanks, thighs and vent of a pale yellowish tint ; iris, light 

 hazel ; bill and legs, pale yellow ; it was a hen bird, and in very good 

 condition. 



Chaffinch. A person named Howard killed in, this neighbourhood on 

 the 17th instant, a splendid old male variety of this species. Its head and 

 neck w^ere of a pure white, with the exception of a few bluish slate-coloured 

 feathers scattered over the surface of the former ; back and scapularies brown 

 intermixed with patches of pale yellow, and white ; rump green with a few 

 white feathers ; part of quill feathers in wing, white ; under surface of 

 wing, white ; breast and abdomen, pale brown intermixed with white. 



Skylark. A buff-coloured variety of the Skylark was taken about the 

 25th instant ; upper parts of a uniform buff, feathers marked with a shade 

 of darker tint, under parts of a cream colour. 



Rook. An immature male killed on the 24th ultimo ; it had a patch of 

 white feathers under its throat, the first four or five primary quill features in 

 each wing were also white. 



EAEITIES. 



Merlin. A few immature birds of this species of the Palconidse, usually 

 occur each season in IsTorfolk, the mature birds being of more rare occurrence. 

 I have seen but one instance of the latter during the last four years, that 

 being a splendid male specimen obtained somewhere in ITorfolk in 1860, or the 

 following year. A nice male example of the former was taken in this locality 

 dming the latter part of last month. Trom beak to tail (both included) it 

 measured eleven inches. 



Great Grey Shrike. An old male about the 1 3th instant. 



Hawfinch. The only individual of this species I have seen this winter 

 is a fine old male now in the possession of Mr. Pear, birdstuffer. It was 

 obtained at Saxlingliam during the latter part of January. 



Crossbill. A fine old male was shot on the 26th of January on some 

 firs on Mousehold near this city. During the whole of last year I never saw 

 a single individual of this species, and the above is the only instance I have 

 seen this year. 



Hooded Crow. On the 3rd instant, a male was killed at BrundalL 

 Quail. A female was shot at Bessthorpe early in January. 

 Grey Plover. Two males were taken about the 16th instant, one 

 measured twelve and a half inches from the tip of beak to tail, the 

 latter included; wing from carpal joint, eight incties; bill from gap to 



