13th.—Mr. Gunn showed me a Slavonian Grebe,† and a few days afterwards I saw another, which had, in addition to a bright red eye, a beautiful inner rim of yellow next the pupil.
15th.—A Bewick's Swan† shot at Holt.
19th.—Disturbed a Wood-Pigeon from her nest in a fir-tree, in which were two eggs, in spite of snow being on the ground. This is a most erratic species as to nesting, and I certainly think Wood-Pigeons sometimes have four or five nests in a year. These are often such flimsy fabrics that it is a wonder how they hold together, and sometimes the glossy-white eggs can be seen through them. A propos of this subject, Miss Buxton saw a Wood-Pigeon flying with an egg-shell in its beak, which it afterwards dropped. From this no doubt a young one had been recently extruded, instinct probably prompting the parent to remove the shells.
22nd.—Mr. A. Napier, who resides at Holkam, informs Mr. Southwell that there have been more wildfowl on the Earl of Leicester's lake than he ever saw before, and he believes at one time there were 20,000 Ducks of sorts on the water, but only one Smew. Several Whooper Swans have also visited the lake.
25th.—At least three thousand Coots, or "Cutes," as they are locally called, on Hickling Broad; and afforded an extraordinary sight when, on being fired at by a flotilla of boats, perhaps nearly one thousand would rise in the air at one time, dispersing in every direction, but seldom leaving their beloved Broad. The same system of shooting is adopted as at Slapton Ley and the mouth of the Rhone, the object being to keep a good line and hem the Coots in, which, if properly done, the birds return over the boats. The tenacity with which they cling to the Broad is owing to their being day-feeders, for at night Coots often fly long distances of their own accord. How long these organized Coot-shoots have been in existence Mr. Bird is unable to ascertain, but certainly as long as any of the present marshmen can remember.
28th.—The month of February was again notable by a very considerable incursion of Little Auks, mingled with many young Puffins (a somewhat new feature), but I only heard of one adult Puffin from Mr. Patterson. It is probable that the adult birds, being stronger than young ones, are less at the mercy of the
