Page:The Zoologist, 1st series, vol 4 (1846).djvu/148

1314 Suffolk, some years since, out of a flock of about five or six which ap- peared in the neighbourhood of Ipswich.

Red-winged Starling, Agelaius phœniceus. A male specimen of this bird, in the plumage of the second year, was shot near Barton Broad, about the 1st of June, 1843.

Its stomach contained the remains of coleopterous insects, and its plumage had all the appearance of that of a wild bird. As, however, this species is occasionally kept as a cage bird, it is of course quite possible that the bird in question had escaped from confinement. Its occurrence is recorded in the ' Zoologist,' (Zool. 317).

We take this opportunity of correcting a slight inaccuracy in the new edition of Mr. Yarrell's work on 'British Birds,' in which it is stated, in a quotation from Mr. Lubbock, that the orange-winged star- ling above-mentioned, was shot near Rollesby Broad.

Common Starling, Sturnus vulgaris. Very common throughout the year, and breeds with us.

Rose-coloured Pastor, Pastor roseus. Several instances have oc- curred of the capture of single individuals of this rare straggler in Norfolk, in almost all its difierent stages of plumage.

Raven, Corvus corax. Is found in Norfolk throughout the year, and breeds in the county, but in small, and apparently decreasing numbers. Sir Thomas Browne, in speaking of the raven at Norwich, makes the following curious observation. "In good plenty about the city, which makes so few kites to he seen hereabouts."

Carrion Crow, Corvus corone. Is found in Norfolk throughout the year, and breeds with us, but is a much less common species than in many other counties.

Hooded Crow, Corvus cornix. The hooded crow is a very nume- rous winter visitant, arriving on our coast about the end of September, and departing in April. We have observed this species near the mouth of the river Yare, hovering over the water in search of food, after the manner of the terns. We were unable to ascertain precisely the manner in which the prey was secured, but although a bird was once seen to rise with something in its beak, we are inclined to believe that the object was, in the first instance, grasped with the feet.

A pair of these birds are said to have nested in the year 1816, in the neighbourhood of Lynn; and an instance of its occurrence in the Marshes, near Yarmouth, in the month of July, is recorded in the 'Zoologist,' (Zool. 315).

Rook, Corvus frugilegus. Very common throughout the year, and breeds with us.