s:mew. 
they were especially abundant, and a few were shot by the shore-gunners about the creeks and in the harbours. 
On several occasions I attempted to scull up within range ; but the birds were invariably on the alert, and 
to approach within the distance of one hundred yards Avas utterly impossible ; running down before the wind 
under sail was also tried with a like result. One adult male only, so far as I was able to ascertain, put in an 
appearance in the district ; in company with a female, he was discovered feeding in the basin at Southwick by 
an inexperienced shooter, who succeeded in stalking Avithin a fair distance, and, considering the bird with a red 
head a more desirable specimen, slaughtered the female with a steady pot-shot and alloAved the drake to escape 
without making an attempt to use his second barrel. The Aveather during the latter end of 1881 was unusually 
mild, AA'esterly and southerly Avinds prevailing, and but few of the diving-fowl Avere seen, though I kept a 
constant look-out on one or two of the larger broads in the east of Norfolk. Dense sea-fogs with scarcely a 
breath of air set in early in 1882, and for Aveeks the screeching and bclloAving of the fog-horns and A\diistles 
on the light-ships off the coast aa ci’c a constant infliction ; such a continuation of open Aveather necessarily 
accounted for the small number of foreign foAvl on our AAmtcrs. On Ilickling Broad I noticed but one immature 
SmcAv and an adult male Goosander ; the former Avas shot, Avhile the latter, after resorting to the open portion 
of the Avater for a fcAV days, took his departure unmolested, evidently possessing a strong objection to permit a 
near approach. 
The young male depicted in the Plate was obtained on Ilickling Broad on the 21th of January, 1882 ; 
Avhen first seen, his small size at once attracting attention, the bird Avas flying in company Avith five immature 
Goldeneyes. After AAdieeling round several times the party settled on the open Avater and commenced 
plunging below the surface; the presence, hoAvever, of the other watchful Divers rendered it impossible to 
obtain a shot at the tiny stranger : after being tAvice alarmed they rose high in the air and left the Avater, 
heading straight for Horsey Mere. A couple of hours later a small Avhite-breasted foAvl Avas observed diving 
close under the dark shadoAv thrown by the muddy bank of one of the hills, and an inspection through the 
glasses instantly revealed the fact that our friend of the morning had returned alone, and Avas busily engaged 
in searching for food. Not a breath of air was stirring, and the Avater being as smooth as glass, little time 
Avas lost in sculling towards the spot ; having arrNed Avithin the distance of fifty yards without causing the 
slightest alarm, Ave paused to AA'atch the manner in which he pursued his prey. ScA^eral times this active little 
Diver returned to the surface, having evidently met with no success, as after looking Avistfully round he 
instantly plunged again. At last with an unusual flutter, causing a perceptible ripple on the AAnter, the 
hungry bird dashed up to Avithin thirty yards of the punt, making frantic but apparently vain attempts to 
SAA^alloAv a fish protruding at least a couple of inches from his bill. With distended throat and Avidely opened 
mandibles, he SAvam round and round in circles, stretching forward his neck, and repeatedly dipping his bill 
beloAV the surface for the distance of tAvo or three yards ; from time to time he lifted his head in the air Avith 
a resolute shake. After these antics had been continued for some five or six minutes, the bird seemed to 
liaAm satisfactorily disposed of his troublesome capture, and rising half out of the Avater commenced flapping 
his Avings in the most A'igorous manner ; this was a chance not to be lost, and a charge from the punt-gun at 
about sixty yards laid this diminutive Avanderer from the north dead as a stone on the water. On examination 
the stomach AA'as found to contain one fresh roach of such dimensions that, Avhen the small gullet of the bird 
Avas considered, it appeared a mystery how the little glutton succeeded in getting it doAvn. There were also 
the bones of another fish of the same species, several minute shells and stones, and some fibrous grassy roots, 
the latter Avere probably portions of the Aveed torn up from the bottom Avhen the shells were sAvalloAved. 
The colours of the soft parts AA^ere as folloAVs: — Iris very dark hazel ; mandibles, upper and lower, slate, the 
line of the teeth a lighter hue, nail also lighter. Inside of mouth and tongue slate, changing into a flesh-tint 
toAvards the point of the beak. Legs and toes slate, Avebs darker, Avith a narrow line of a lighter tint each 
side of tlie toes. 
