Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 2 (1898).djvu/146

114 9th.—Wind N.W.A female Tawny Pipit in somewhat faded plumage was netted on Yarmouth denes, and exhibited at the next meeting of the Norf. and Nor. Nat. Soc. by Mr. Southwell, who took the opportunity of giving a résumé of the present status of Norfolk ornithology. It has been added to Mr. Connop's extensive collection, a catalogue of which Mr. Southwell has recently published (Zool. ante, p. 96).

12th.—An old Muscovy Drake attacked a Canada Goose with such ferocity that it completely disabled the latter, though three times its own size; the goose died from the wounds it had received.

19th.—Another of the chestnut Partridges—the variety named Perdix montana—shot by Mr. H. Galton at Sparham, about eight miles from where some were seen last year. The present specimen I am informed has the back and wings a uniform reddish brown colour without markings, breast bluish white, legs yellow, head normal. Two of those obtained by Col. Vivian last year had the whole of the breast and belly a rich dark chestnut, almost chocolate-colour, reminding me of a Grouse (cf. 'Field,' Jan. 15th, 1898). This is a more striking variety than the bluish or stone-grey variety, which is a pale bird with a cream-coloured chin, which also turned up this autumn in one or two places in Norfolk.

29th.—An Eider Duck watched on Breydon Broad by Mr. Patterson.

Two Goosanders and four Mergansers are about the only things to be noted in this month; one Velvet Scoter, and an Eider Duck killed with a stone at Hemsby. Some hybrids between Anas pœcilorhyncha (the Indian Spot-billed Duck) and a Wild Duck on ponds at Keswick may be mentioned, though I do not think any of them are likely to escape and confuse county avifaunists.

10th.—A Coot on the river at Keswick (very unusual) and some Siskins on the alders, a bird of which there have been an unusual number at Yarmouth (Lowne). Two Magpies at Northrepps about this time, and a Waxwing catapulted at Wells (Col. Feilden).