Richard's Pipit (Anthus Ricardi). Was shot here November 22nd, 1841; another example in the following April: a third specimen was shot on the 24th instant, on the Denes, between Yarmouth and Caister, and within a few days of the time at which one of this species was met with here last year. It was shot by the same person who killed the last specimen, he having instantly recognized its loud note and peculiar manner of walking and feeding. These birds appear to vary considerably in size. Mr. Yarrell makes the length of the male bird six inches and three quarters.[1] The specimen killed here last April was said to measure seven inches and a quarter, while this bird measured, before it was stuffed, seven inches and five-eighths in length, and twelve inches in the extent of its wings. The lower mandible of the beak, when 1 first saw it, had a purplish tint, which has since changed to a dull red. The second outside tail-feather on each side, described as being in part dull white, and having the brown colour on the inner web extending over a larger surface than in the outside feather, has also in this bird a black shaft, which, being surrounded with white, forms, when the tail is spread, a very conspicuous mark on each side. The base of the outer web of this feather, of which I enclose a drawing, is also black, and the edges of the quill feathers are light brown.
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Second outside tail-feather of Richard's Pipit.
I found it, upon dissection, to be a male. The gizzard was filled with several species of flies and gnats, amongst which I noticed the remains of the ladybird and of a species of ichneumon.
Hoopoe, (Upupa Epops). A specimen of the hoopoe was shot near this place on the 5th instant. At all times rare in this county, it is much more so at this season of the year, being generally met with in the autumn.
Kentish Plover, called here "Alexandrian Plover," (Charadrius Cantianus). A specimen (male) was brought me on the 17th instant. It was killed on a small lump of stones and shingle, which is, I believe, the only spot on Breydon left uncovered, except by very high tides I mention this circumstance as corroborative of the attachment
- ↑ See Yarrell's 'British Birds,' i. 398.
