MR. T. SOUTHWELL ON RARE BIRDS IN NORFOLK. 
205 
gurgling sound. As my eyelids began to droop, and the sense 
to become indistinct, suddenly a low, hollow, booming note struck 
my ear, and sent my thoughts back to a spring morning in 
Northern Illinois, and to the loud vibrating tones of the prairie 
chickens. Again the sound arose nearer and more distinct, and 
with an effort I brought myself back to the reality of my position, 
and, resting upon one elbow, listened. . . . Once again the 
note was repeated close by, and a glance revealed its author. 
Standing in the thin grasses, ten or fifteen yards from me, with 
its throat inflated until it was as large as the rest of the bird, was 
a male A. macula ta. . . . The note is deep, hollow, and 
resonant, but at the same time liquid and musical, and may be 
represented by a repetition of the syllables too (1, repeated eight 
times. Eoforo the bird utters this note, it fills its oesophagus with 
air to such an extent that the breast and throat is inflated to twice 
or moro its natural size, and the great air sack thus formed gives 
the peculiar resonant note” (p. 108). In fact the amatory per- 
formances of this bird seem to rival those of the Ruff, for Mr. Nelson 
says “he crosses back and forth in front of the female, puffing 
his breast out and bowing from side to side, running here and 
there, as if intoxicated with passion.” I trust I may be excused this 
quotation as I am nQt aware that this singular, perhaps unique, 
inflation, and the remarkable breeding habits of the Pectoral Sand- 
piper had previously been put on record, or even, except in the 
case of Mr. Adams, observed. 
King Duck ( Somateria spectabili In our last year’s 
‘ Transactions ’ (p. 58) I was able to record the undoubted 
occurrence in this county of a young male King Duck, which 
was killed at Hunstanton in January, 1888. Through the kindness 
of Dr. Whitty I have since had the opportunity of examining in 
the flesh two other specimens of this bird, both killed in the 
same locality as that first mentioned. On the 3rd November, 
1890, a young female, and on the 15th of the same month an 
adult female were sent me by Dr. Whitty, to be preserved for 
him. When shot both were in company with Scoters. 
Whiskered Tern ( Sterna hybrid a). We are indebted to the 
Rev. Julian G. Tuck for the discovery of a second Norfolk 
specimen of this rare accidental visitor. On a visit to Newmarket 
in February last, ho observed it in the shop of Mr. Howlett of 
