483 
river, some of which were captured and turned off on a pond in 
that neighbourhood. These were, of course, old enough to take 
care of themselves ; but I have recently heard, through a gentle- 
man well acquainted with these birds in a wild state, as a few pairs 
still breed annually on his sand-hills in the neighbourhood of 
Lynn, that although, when eggs are taken and hatched out under 
tame ducks or liens, the young are easily reared, if young wild 
Shelddrakes are captured ami placed under the charge of the same 
foster-parents, witli nestlings of their own kind and age, they are 
nover brought up to maturity ; refusing the food supplied, when 
once they have known their own mothers and their habits and diet. 
Green-backed Gallinule ( Porphyrio smaragdonotm). In my 
last year’s notes, I recorded the first-known occurrence of the 
Green-backed Porphyrio in Norfolk, a bird killed at Tatterford, on 
the western side of the county. Since then, two other specimens 
have been procured in the “ Broad ” district. One of these was 
shot on the 6th of September, 1877, in the marshes bordering 
upon llickling Broad, and there is little reason to doubt was an 
escaped bird from Mr. Gurney’s residence at North repps, lie having 
lost ono of his African specimens during the summer. The 
distance is inconsiderable between the two places and the 
wilderness of reeds about Hickling and Potter Heigham would 
form a special attraction. The second example was shot on the 
1st of November, upon the swampy ground between Stalham 
and Barton Broad. When shewn to mo in the flesh on the 
following morning, I found it like the other in perfect plumage, 
the feet and claws clean and sharp, but this is also the case with 
Mr. Gurney’s specimens, although they have now been some time 
in confinement. If the Tatterford Gallinule may be considered 
a genuine migrant, there seems no reason why the Barton bird 
should not be considered so as well. 
Early appearance of the Snow Bunting. I saw a single 
bird of this species this autumn, which had been shot here as early 
as the 19th of September, still showing many traces of its summer 
plumage. 
Manx Shearwater. On the 15th of September, a bird of this 
species was sent up to Norwich to bo stuffed, but I could not learn 
in what part of the county it had been killed. 
x x 
