CORRESPONDENCE. 
7 1 
CORRESPONDENCE. 
(The Editor is not responsible for the opinions expressed by Correspondents.) 
NOTES FROM ROYSTON 
September 16th : A beautiful snow bunting fPlectrophenax 
nivalis ) was shot near here this morning. This bird is occasion¬ 
ally met with in very severe weather, but I have never heard O' 
one having been seen so early in the season, neither did I ever 
see one in such fine plumage. 
The “ big gooseberry ” has had its day, so it must fairly give 
place to the “ big apple,” which I have now before me (Peas- 
good’s Nonsuch), it weighs 27F ounces, it is the largest apple ever 
known to have grown on our poor chalk soil. 
October 4th : A fine specimen of a very old female sparrow- 
hawk ( Accipiter jiisns) was brought in this morning. It is in the 
hands of my friend Mr. Norman, for preservation, he tells me it 
is the finest example of a female bird acquiring the plumage of 
the male he has ever met with. 
October 6th : A friend who has just returned from Newark, 
Notts, tells me that a cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carlo' has taken 
possession of the weather vane of the church, which is between 
two and three hundred feet high; it roosts there all night until 
five in the morning, when it goes down to the Trent to catch its 
breakfast, it soon returns, at one o’clock it goes for luncheon, 
and at four for dinner, it has a good view of the river and the 
country, as I believe the spire of the church is the highest in the 
neighbourhood. 
October 6th : I was shown a potato this morning with a piece 
of twitch grass grown completely through it, this is not of frequent 
occurrence. 
October 1 ith : The Cormorant has now been on the church at 
Newark about a fortnight, and was there to-day. 
October 14th : I have been informed this morning, that some 
Cormorants have taken possession of the roof of Ely Cathedral. 
1 expect the reason for these birds appearing so far inland, is, 
that there must either be a scarcity of fish in their usual feeding- 
place, or a much larger supply than usual in our rivers. 
October 15 th, 1893. Rambler. 
ICTERINE WARBLER IN NORFOLK. 
At the museum last week, Mr. Southwell, r.z.s., made some 
remarks on the male Icterine Warbler ( Hypolais icterina ) shot at 
Wells, Norfolk, September 4th. Mr. Roberts (bird-stuffer) 
showed me this bird last Saturday, September 30th. It was badly 
shot in the head. Mr. Roberts told me it w r as shot by a Surrey 
gentleman.—w. h. m. a. Nonvich. 
