488 
Mr. Youell gives in the ‘Linn. Trans.’ (xiii, p. G17), and which is 
in accordance with the other examples which have occurred in 
England since : see the list in Harting’s ‘ Handbook of British 
Birds,’ p. 149, where particular allusion is made to this Ormesby 
occurrence. I will give one extract from Mr. Dowell’s description. 
He says (l.c.) : — “ From the back of the head grew seven or eight 
feathers, each between five and six inches long,” which, let the 
bird have been killed when it may, is incontestably -what has 
always been regarded by ornithologists as the nuptial plumage, or 
plumage peculiar to summer. These long plumes are lacking in 
winter. Three squacco herons in my collection which were killed 
in Africa (two in Transvaal and one in Egypt) are destitute of them, 
and this is because they are in winter dress. I am sorry to have 
taken up so much space, hut I think it very important to get the 
correct date, and as it refers to a Norfolk bird I thought you would 
like to have my note about it. — J. H. Gurney, Junr., 29th May, 1877. 
Woodcocks Drowned whilst Migrating. — From the ‘ Norwich 
Mercury’ of 11th November, 178G : — “A letter from a gentleman 
at Manningtree in Suffolk says that the master of a collier from 
Newcastle thither, assured him that on the 2nd of October last, 
being within a few leagues of Faston Ness, on the coast of Suffolk, 
he sailed through water which appeared unusually black, and on 
inspection it was found to be occasioned by a vast number of 
drowned birds, and those birds woodcocks ; it is conjectured that 
being on their annual journey over hither, they were unable to 
accomplish it by reason of the very strong westerly winds w r e 
had about that time, and being worn out by fatigue before they 
could reach the land, perished in the waters.” — J. H. Gurney, 
March, 1878. 
Natural History Notes from Churchwardens’ Accounts. — 
The following extracts from the Churchwardens’ accounts of the 
parish of Sprowston, communicated to the Norfolk and Norwich 
Archaeological Society by the Bev. W. J. Stracey, in February, 
184G, may be interesting to the members of the Naturalists’ Society, 
as they show us how our ancestors by a kind of poll tax tried to 
keep down the numbers of some of the birds and animals, to which 
the woods and unreclaimed lands at that time afforded a very 
complete protection : — 
