772 
as in most seasons; and hence a general dearth of bird-life about our 
sea-coasts and marshes, as well as in more sheltered inland localities. ? 
In the first week of January I heard of two or three Waxwiims i 
seen or shot, near Holt, and one at Lammas, near Cromer, indicatina,’ 
as I have before observed, that the advent of this beautiful and 
irregular migrant is by no means confined to severe winters. \ 
On the Gth a Common Buzzard appeared at Horthrepps, and a 
large Eaptor, seen at the same place on the 30th, was, possibly, a I 
mugh-legged Buzzard, of which species one had been shot at ' 
Fulmodestone on the 14th. Of wild-fowl, the only entries I find ^ 
worth notice during this month are a male Gadwall, at Salthouse, | 
on the Cth, and another at Hickling on the 14th, the latter, in all I 
probability, bred in this county. 
As early as the 11th of February, a profusion of chips on the 
ground drew my attention to a freshly-bored or enlarged nest-hole 
of the btarling, in one of the old trees in Chapel-field ; but, already, 
bparrows were disputing possession, and prevailed, I have no doubt, ■' 
from a mass of nesting stuff protruding from the aperture ivlieii I | 
passed some days later. [ 
On the 22nd a Snow Bunting was shot at Cromer, which had j 
already begun to assume its breeding-dress,— an exceedingly early I 
date; but if at all attributable to so mild a season, it was, no ! 
doubt, a bird of some age, as my aviary experience proves that, in ^ 
most species, the oldest birds assume their summer garb soonest ; j 
and I think I may also add, in healthy subjects, the assumption in ( 
such fully adults is more rapid than in second-year, or still youno-er i 
birds. ° I 
* 
March followed suit as to mildness of temperature, and the first 
throe weeks were altogether foreign to its usual character. With 
some ram to begin with, from the 5th to the 20th, Mr. Preston 
describes it as “summer-like;” but the 21st brought an unlooked- 
lor change, and a keen north wind, with sleet, and even snowstorms, 
at times, quite changed the scene till the 25th, wlion the former 
state of things prevailed to the end of the month. With but a few 
rime frosts, however, the brief interval of cold had no effect on the 
forward state of vegetation, some three weeks in advance of ordinarv i 
seasons. 
i 
