118 
(which has also occurred in this county,) in the 3rd Ed. of his 
British Birds, gives but one instance of this American species 
having been recognised in England — a male found dead on the 
shore at Exmouth, on the 17th of October, 1845; and I am not 
aware that it has been met with since. AVhether Mr. Gurney’s bird 
came on board the Beecher Stowe in mid-ocean, or near land, is 
not knoAvn, but being still alive when brought ashore, though in 
so deplorable a condition, it could not, I think, have been long 
before the arrival of the vessel in port. Mr. Gurney has very 
kindly placed this most interesting bird in my aviary, where, like 
other crossbills, it climbs over the wires, after the manner of a 
parrot, by aid of its bill and feet, and feeds out of the hand with 
perfect confidence. In drinking from a shallow pool it lays its 
head down sideways and thus sips the water, without inconveni- 
ence from its crossed bill, a peculiarity I have never seen recorded 
of the crossbill tribe. It is not an unusual circumstance, I under- 
stand, for common crossbills, caught on board smacks and coasting 
vessels, to be brought into Yarmouth. 
Lapland Bunting [Plectrophanes lapponica.) I last year 
recorded the occurrence, in Norfolk, of a bird of this species, a 
somewhat rare visitant from Northern Europe, and have now to 
mention an hitherto unrecorded specimen, purchased by Mr. 
Gurney, of Harvey, at the same time with the American crossbill. 
This example, an adult male, in part change from summer to 
winter plumage, was netted in the “ Californian Gardens,” at 
Yarmouth, in the autumn of 18G8, and was kept alive by Harvey 
for three years when, dying during the moult, it was stuffed by 
him as it now appears. 
Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris .) — The mild winter of 
1872-3 has been as remarkable for a large influx of this species 
as the severe season of 1859-60 ; and though it is to be feared that 
many of our home bred birds are amongst the slain, still their 
simultaneous occurrence in more southern counties, as well as 
in Suffolk, would seem to indicate a very considerable migratory 
movement. The time of their appearance also corresponds to that 
of previous seasons, extending from the beginning of December to 
the first week in March, and although the larger number have been 
