895 
Northward, woodcocks arc again observed in Portugal in great 
abundance, but disappear as the warmer season approaches.” * — 
I shall be glad to hear from you as soon as yon receive this, and 
shall bo glad to hear any tiling on the subject of birds . . . When 
you come to this part of the world, do not forget there is such a 
place as Yarmouth, I shall be glad to see you. 
Believe me dear Lubbock 
Yours very sincerely 
Cns. Stuart Girdlbstone 
II. 
Yarmouth 
Norfolk 
Thursday Nov* 4 th 1S24 
My dear Sir 
On Tuesday last, I sent you a small box containing 
the eggs I promised you, viz. two specimens of the egg of the 
Norfolk Plover, ono of the Spotted Water-Kail, and also a specimen 
of the egg of the Bearded Titmouse, which last I had some 
difficulty in procuring, my bird-stuffer not being very willing to 
part with it : the Bearded Titmice plentifully breed with us, but 
their nests are extremely difficult to discover, as they build in large 
beds of reeds. Bitterns also breed with us, but their eggs for the 
same reason are seldom found. I sent you a fresh specimen of the 
Grey Phalarope. I think I recollect seeing one in your museum, but 
possibly you might have purchased yours, in a preserved state : the 
ono I sent was remarkably small, probably a female, or a young 
bird : this however you will discover upon dissection. I sent you 
a stuffed specimen of the Spotted Snipe (Scolopax totanus) of 
Montagu : he describes it as a rare species and I believe it is, 
certainly with ns — see his supplement and the plate. The specimen 
I sent you was killed this last September. I sent you according to 
promise a specimen of the Pigmy Curlew, likewise a specimen of 
* This passage is from the ‘ Supplement ’ to Montagu’s Ornithological 
Dictionary , and was published in 1813. Capt. Latham, it is added in a foot- 
note, had since fallen in the breach at the siege of Badajos. 
