Mli.MOIU OF TllK FATE JOHN SCALES. 'J3 
Sandpipers, two Velvet drakes and one duck — which the people here call 
the JIagpie or Nightingale l)uck. lie sa^'s there are a great many about 
four miles from the shore, and some very curious birds they call French 
Oeese. By his description and his looking into Bewick I imagine they are 
the Northern Diver or Black-throated Diver, for he mentions their having 
long necks and long tails, and I fancy the latter may be their long legs and 
feet put out behind in their flight like the Heron. I imagine the weather 
must 1)0 severe in Russia and other parts for a great number of AVaxen 
Chatterers luive been shot, and I imagine the A'elvet Duck must migrate 
many miles from hence. lie also shot a pair of the L&sser Guillemots* 
(juito different from tho.se I got in the Orkneys. I have had my skins sent 
overt iind have set many of them up in my leisure hours. I yesterday met 
with a bird which no one here knows what it is. I have been searching 
Bewick from end to side, and find none so near it as the female of the King 
Duck;{; . . . The Turnstone is not yet arrived, and not many Fowl but 
what come from Boulogne— Hares, Partridges &c. I really think there is a 
great variety of Fowl out at sea; but they are diflicult to be obtained. I 
want information as to this rara avis, for I think if is a great wrinkle. I never 
knew the Eider to come so far south as this, and if it was a male Eider of 
the first year, I imagine the plumage would be more white with something 
like that lap [?] under the chin ; but this has only the scapulars variegated, 
and no white bars on the wings, which would then have been the case. 
If I am tolerably well I shall perform on it to-morrow and send my man in 
search of more; but the expeditions on the sea are very hazardous and 
uncertain ... I am to remain here till Ala^-, I am sorry to sa}-. It is a 
long time to bo banished, but trust in (Jod it will be for my perfect 
restoration.” 
In tlioyoar 1842Scalcs'stcnancyat Holhougliton ended, and he then 
quitted Norfolk,§ never to return ; hut undertook the management 
of Lady Webster’s property at Hattie Abbey in Sussex, and, while 
in charge of it, caused to bo planted the trees that now form the 
* Under this name Bewick had figured the common Guillemot in winter 
plumage. 
t Probably those he had obtained when on his recent visit to Holland. 
+ I omit the long description which follows, as being insufficient for 
determining the species. If, as is probable, the specimen still exists at 
Congham, it would no doubt be easib' recognized. 
§ On leaving Norfolk he disposed of part of his ornithological collection, 
and the magnificent pair of Bustards which he possessed wore purchased by 
Air. .1. II. Gurnev", who presented them to the Museum at Norwich, where 
they continue to be one of its chief glories {cf. Stevenson, B. Norf. ii., p. 32, 
and in/rii App. C). 
