Museum is the one mentioned by Mr. Lubbock in 1845 as ‘lately’ shot at Hellesdon Mills; and two others 
are stated by the same author to have been seen at different times by trustworthy observers at Marlingford 
and Saxtborpe. Of more recent occurrence I may mention a male in my own collection, wbich was brought 
to me in the flesh, having been shot in November 1855, whilst hovering over the river between the Foundry 
bridge and the feriy. It is not a little singular that a bird so accustomed to the clear running streams of 
the north, and the quiet haunts of the ‘ silent angler,’ should be found, as in this case, almost within the 
walls of the city, sporting over a river turbid and discoloured from the neighbouring ftictorles, and with the 
busy noise of traffic on every side. About the same time that this bird appeared near the city, three others 
were observed on more than one occasion on the Earlham river by Mr. Fountaine, of Easton, who is well 
acquainted with our British birds; but these suddenly disappeared, and were not seen again. Mr. Cremer, 
of Beeston, has one which was killed in that neighbourhood on the 25th of December, 1860 ; another, in the 
possession of Mr. Hubbard, a bird-stuffer in Norwich, was also procured in that year ; and a third, in my own 
collection, on the 29th of January, 1861. All these birds were shown to me in the flesh, and had black 
breasts, like my first specimen, and were in good plumage and condition. There is also a similar example 
in the late Mr. L Estrange s collection at Hunstanton Hall, amongst the birds said to have been killed in 
Norfolk ; and it was most probably obtained on that part of the coast. From the winter of 1861 I know of 
no others seen or j)rocured in Norfolk until the 24th of November, 1864, when a male bird was shot at 
Buxton by Mr. J. Gambling, who very kindly presented it to the Norwich Museum. This specimen, which 
was brought to me in the flesh, is the one before alluded to as slightly exceptional in plumage, as, when 
fresh killed, there was a decidedly reddish tinge below the white on the breast, but by no means so bright or 
so extended as in two Scotch skins in my possession. This tinge, however, has much faded since the bird 
was preserved ; and therefore I do not think that my previously expressed 0 |)inion respecting our Norfolk 
specimens is thereby upset. Mr. Alfred Newton, to whom I referred this point, is of the same opinion, and 
remarks, ‘ All birds vary, and they vary so as to resemble allied races or species. Therefore this may yet 
be a Scandinavian example ; and if so, it would only go to prove that in the Scandinavian form the black 
belly is not a constant feature.’ On dissecting this last I found the stomach filled with the remains of 
insects, nothing else — consisting of the elytra and legs of a little water-beetle, and of some small Notonectm. 
It is also particularly worthy of notice that in almost every instance in which this bird has been obtained in 
Norfolk, away from the coast, it has been found in the vicinity of the water-mills upon our inland streams, 
attracted no doubt by the noise and splash of the tumbling flushes, the nearest approach to its native 
waterfalls.” 
Mr. Salvin has published a valuable monograph of the genus Cinclus in ‘The Ibis’ for the year 1867, to 
which I refer those of my readers who may desire to make themselves acquainted with a group of birds so 
remarkable for the situations they affect and for their singular habits and economy. 
'Hie sexes are so nearly alike in size and colour as to be scarcely distinguishable. 
The figures are of the natural size. 
