On tho 1st, at Gunton, near Cromer, a solitary Bi'ambling Finch 
was seen consorting with a flock of other small birds ; and on the 
4th and Gth, Hooded Crows, in some numbers, were observed 
passing southwards, near tho coast at Xorthrepps. By the 12th, 
some thirty Books’ nests were completed in Brundall Wood, and 
about twenty more by tho 1 Gth ; and young Herons were hatched 
at Taverham prior to the 25th. Of the earliest summer migi'ants, 
the Wryneck was heard in Cossey Park on tho 20th, and the 
Willow Wren and Chiffcliaff at Xorthrepps, about the same date. 
Snow Buntings, in small numbers, remained along the coast at 
Yarmouth till late in tho month. Bcdshanks were clamorous in 
tho marshes quite early in March, and Lapwings’ eggs wei’O in 
Yarmouth market by tho last week of the month. 
April was not a pleasant month, tho weather variable, and mostly 
cold and w'ct, with a i)revalence of north .and north-cast winds ; 
and, although, .as Mr. Preston notes, tho Oaks were leafing as early 
as the 5th, and tho Hawthorns in blossom by the 28th,— for tho 
first time so early since 1810, — yet vegetation, on the whole, 
received a check, and tho keen air and chilling showers were in 
strange contrast to the luxuriant greenery of tho trees and hedge.s. 
The terrible g.alo on tho night of tho 29th, from the south-west, 
with shoots of driving rain, caused sad havoc amongst the trees in 
plantations, to Scotch and Spruce Firs especially, and to shrubs 
and plants in our gardens, those in the direct lino of the blasts 
having their leaves shrivelled and discoloured, as if by frosts; and 
in tho South of England the effect of frost and wind combined, 
after much wet, w.as most disastrous to the fruit crop generally. 
Some young Eobins in ray garden the next morning, partly fledged, 
had probably been blown from their nests, which faced the storm. 
Young Books, in loc.alities exposed to the force of the g.ale, had a 
rough time of it on that memorable night, and nests and young 
birds were alike blown out of the trees. At Beeston, near Cromer, 
jMr. Cremer informed me thfit nc.arly all the old trees in his rookery 
having been blown down by the previous October gale, some fifty 
nests had been built this spring in smaller ones, which sw.ayed 
aViout so much in the g.ale of the 29th, that numbers of young birds 
were thrown out and killed. 
'fwo or throe Magpies were seen at Forncett on the first of 
