Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/156

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THE ZOOLOGIST.

Sev. Notes were sent me respecting five more in the autumn at Brunstead, Norwich, Shernbourne, and Heacham, probably Pallas's Shrike, which, as in Heligoland, is much the commoner of the two, i.e. with one white spot; but as both forms are found in the same brood ('Ibis,' 1886, p. 32), L. excubitor and L. major cannot be distinct species.

4th.—Red-necked Grebe at Cley, and Little Gull at Cromer (H. Cole).

7th.—White-fronted Goose, Black-throated Diver, and Mealy Redpoll at Blakeney. About Christmas Mr. Pashley states that a number of Mealy Redpolls frequented the sand-hills, but, on the other hand, Shore Larks were just as scarce as they were abundant in 1895.

9th.—A Great Skua shot at Eccles (T. Southwell); a fine dark specimen.

14th.—Shag at Heacham and Grey Shrike at Dersingham (R. Clarke).

17th.—A much pied Moorhen, with white back and breast and curiously dappled wings, its feathers, however, of the ordinary texture, and not hair-like, as is sometimes the case—shot at Morton (E. Roberts).

19th.—Bernicle Goose, always a rare bird with us, brought into Yarmouth (A. Patterson).

22nd.— Shag at Hillington (R. Clarke).

February.

10th.—A male Goldeneye shot on the river at Keswick.

11th.—Peregrine Falcon at Holkham (Lord Leicester).

17th.—Mr. A. Patterson forwarded a live Rook with perfectly complete nasal bristles, which it retained up to the time of its death in July, being probably then sixteen months old. Can this bird have been a half-breed? I see nothing wild in the supposition, knowing that Rooks have even paired with Magpies when pinioned.

22nd.—A female (domesticated) Wild Duck, which assumed the male plumage about ten years ago, died, having for several winters past acquired absolutely perfect male attire.

28th.—Three Scandinavian Rock Pipits shot at the mouth of the Glaven, but, though males, they showed very little of the