MR. J. II. GURNEY ON THE LAPLAND BUNTING. 
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whose visitation I have to bring under the Society’s notice. 
They came from the same quarter as the Bluethroats and Shorelarks, 
which, like many other insessorial species, seem to be extending 
their range westwards ; yet it is a fact that there are ten observers 
now where there was but one a quarter of a century ago, and we 
must not forget what this means. In France, comparatively 
speaking, no rare birds are seen, because there are no ornithological 
observers : the country is as well suited for rare birds as England 
is, and the common idea that they are all eaten is quite an in- 
sufficient explanation of the absence of common ones. But to 
return to the Lapland Buntings. 
An examination of the comparative list given in our ‘Transactions’ 
(vol. iv. p. 55), will show all the great avian migrations to Norfolk 
between 1SG7 and 1883, and also that in most instances, as in the 
case of the Lapland Buntings in 1892, the wanderers have not 
stopped at Heligoland on their way to Norfolk. The Lapland 
Bunting is at no time very common there (<•/. ‘ Ibis’ 1892, p. 1G), 
and it will bo seen that it is only mentioned in my list once, viz., 
in 1873 ( l.c . p. 5G). In Norfolk, prior to 1892, the Lapland 
Bunting had not occurred more than about eight times, the last 
one being duly noted in our ‘Transactions’ by Mr. Southwell 
(vol. v. p. 202). 
The first intimation of their presence in the year 1892 was in 
September. On the 22nd of that month a Lapland Bunting was 
taken at Saxmundham, in Suffolk, and on the 23rd one was 
shot at Yarmouth. These were the forerunners of the flocks 
which settled at Cley and Yarmouth in the following month. 
It cannot be said that these wind-driven migrants came to 
Norfolk with the intention of wintering here, but being here 
I think they would have stayed if unmolested, as Shorelarks 
sometimes do. Any such good intentions on their part were 
speedily frustrated, for no sooner did their presence become known 
than bird-catchers and bird-shooters were on the alert ; fifty-six, 
if not more, were taken at Yarmouth, I am sorry to say, all of 
them on the strip of sand denes between that place and Caister. 
Some were shot, but more were caught in clap-nets. I saw iifteen 
on sale in one cage. In common with other ornithologists I regret 
so many Lapland Buntings have been netted and shot; but when 
there are rare birds people will go after them, and as the species is 
