Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 1 (1843).djvu/210

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182
Birds.

which this bird is said to show to stony ground, in preference to sand or mud. It is very seldom met with here.

White Stork (Ciconia alba). As I was walking on the beach, on the morning of the 10th of May last, I observed a bird of this species coming over from seawards. When it first came over the shore, it was flying so low that I could plainly distinguish its long legs stretched out behind, like those of the heron, the black bar across the wings, formed by the quill feathers and wing coverts, contrasting strongly with the pure white of the rest of the plumage. I watched it for some minutes, as, after taking two or three turns over the houses, it slowly soared to an immense height, and then went steadily off in a south-westerly direction. It was shot the next day, about six miles from Yarmouth, and has, I believe, been since placed in the Norwich Museum.

Purple Sandpiper, here "Scandinavian Sandpiper," (Tringa maritima). The number of specimens taken varies very much every year. In 1841 I saw but one specimen, which occurred October 23rd. In 1842, from October 22nd to December 10th inclusive, it was comparatively common.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tringa rufescens). A specimen shot here September 22nd, 1841.

Wood Sandpiper (Totanus glareola). I saw this bird at a dealer's August 23rd, 1841, since which time I have not heard of its occurrence.

Great Snipe (Scolopax major). Twelve or thirteen of these birds were shot in the beginning of September last, near Lowestoft. Three were killed on the 8th of that month, in one day, by the same party.

Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus lobalus). One was killed November 23rd, 1841; another November 2nd, 1842. One or two are generally killed every year about this time.

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus melanopterus). Occurred here about May 7th, 1842.

Avocet (Recurvirostra Avocetta). Was shot in May and July last, and I have already communicated to you the late occurrence of this bird (Zool. 148), since which two more have been seen in Breydon, and one of them shot.

Hooper or Whistling Swan (Anas Cygnus). I saw three of these at a dealer's, on the 24th of last December. They were all apparently birds of the first year.

Little Auk (Alca Alle). A great many of these birds appeared in the latter part of October, 1841. One which had been taken by a