MR. H. M. UPCIIEU ON IJIRO’s-XESTlNG IN NORFOLK. G81 
Have any of your readers ever observed them to make a sort of 
drumming noise somewhat resembling that made by a Snipe, only 
not quite so distinct. At the end of January, 1888, two Fulmer 
Petrels were tiiken at Cley-next-the-Sea I procured one alive, and 
sent it to the Zoological Gardens, but, unfortunately, it did not live 
very long. There has been a remarkable aksence of Fieldfares and 
Redwings, and this fact does not seem to have been confined to 
Norfolk. But in the severe weather the first week in February, 
there was a great migi-ation of Redwings to the Norfolk coast. 
At Blakeney, for two days, a perpetual stream of them seemed to 
be arriving without any ce.ssation, a curious occurrence at that 
time of year. At the same time there was a very large influx of 
foreign fowl on the coast. 'I'ho lake at Holkham was, I hear, 
quite full of Wigeon about 4th and fith of February. The Sand 
Grouse I need not mention, as their history is fully chronicled by 
others, further than to mention, that a flock of them remained 
unmolested close by here for sevend months ; but T have not heard 
of them since the beginning of February. A wdiite specimen of 
the Thick-kneed Plover (Adisnatiiis) w’as in this neighbourhood all 
the summer, and departed with the others. It will be curious to 
see if he returns this year. One in the ordinary garb remained till 
December. But T believe it is generally tbe ca.se that one straggler 
stays very late. A pair of Wagtails reared two broods in the same 
corner of a blank window in this house last year. They have 
already been to look at the old spot. They are the common grey- 
coloured-looking Wagtails. But near them on the gra.ss the other 
day sat a magnificent fellow, apparently a solitary bird, but 
gorgeou.sly arrayed in black and w’hite, the colours standing out 
quite in as marked contrast as they do in a ^Magpie. There is an 
interesting case of Wagtails in the South Kensington Mu.«eum, 
which contains a Pied and a White Wagtail which were killed 
breeding together. Our lamented friend, Mr. Henry Stevenson, 
told me he once purchased a bird alive, which he was positive was 
a White Wagtail. After keeping it for some time in his aviary it 
developed into a most undeniable Pied Wagtail. What about 
a clear and well-defined species after such cases as this? It is 
a point I am more than sceptical upon, and have not yet seen any- 
thing to convert me to the two species theory. 
I am very glad to say that T have noticed an undoubted increase 
