64 
Ornithological Notes for 1874 — 5. 
By H. Stevenson, F.L.S. 
Early arrival of Nightingales. The song of this bird was 
first heard on the 4th and 5th of April, in two localities near Nor- 
wich, an extremely early date, and several were in song near 
the city on the 6th, 7th, and 8th. In Mr. Marsham’s table of 
“ Indications of Spring,” derived from observations extending over 
a period of ninety-three years, at Stratton Strawless, as published 
in the present number of the Transactions of this Society, p. 33, 
under the head of “ Nightingale sings,” the earliest date is April 
7th, 1752, the latest May 19th, 1792, the medium time being 
April 28th, 1784, a difference of forty-two days observed in ninety, 
three years. 
Heronries in Norfolk. A pair of herons established them- 
selves this year in Keswick Bookery, and brought off their young 
ones, for the first time since, about forty-five years ago, they 
quitted that ancient stronghold for Earlham and other neighbour- 
ing localities, the underwood there being somewhat thoughtlessly 
burnt during the breeding season, a liberty which they resented by 
seeking fresh quarters in the following year. A small and thriving 
colony of these birds in Lord Suffield’s park, at Gunton, near 
Cromer, was unknown to me when writing my account of this 
species in “ The Birds of Norfolk.” 
Pied Flycatcher (Muscicapa atricapilla). A pair were shot 
on the 16th of May, in the “ North End” gardens at Yarmouth; 
and about the 25th a fine adult male, at Gunton, near Lowestoft, 
on the same part of the coast. This species, in small numbers, 
seems to visit us pretty regularly in spring, and occasionally re- 
mains to breed with us, though seldom passing far inland. In my 
account of the pied flycatcher, in the first volume of “ The Birds of 
Norfolk,” I noticed the rarity of its appearance in autumn in the 
Eastern Counties, but a remarkable immigration of the species 
occurred at Gunton, near Lowestoft, a very favourite locality, in 
September, 1868, as recorded by myself in the “ Zoologist ” for 
1869, p. 1492. These seemed to consist of young birds chiefly, 
but no doubt some adults amongst them in the plain grey plumage 
they are now ascertained to assume at tho closo of the breeding season. 
