Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/267

Rh season of this year; so that there will be no danger to reproduction through too early nesting, which sometimes is a risk when cold weather sets in later in the year. A Robin, which may be reasonably supposed to have made my stable its shelter up to this its tenth winter, was crushed by a horse a week or two ago; it was acquainted with all the customs of the place. One at least appeared in the autumn that the stable was first in use, returning every following year, until its peculiar habits drew attention to it.— (Alford, N.B.).

Notes from Norfolk.—Fritton Decoy. Mr. Patterson (ante, p. 160) gives the catch of fowl in Sir Savile Crossley's decoy at Fritton for the season 1887-8. As that season was described by the decoy man as a bad one, "not many fowl on the decoy, plenty of Wigeon after the 1st March," which, as usual, were too late to add to the return, perhaps readers may like to know what was done in the past season, which in the months of December, January, and part of February was a very favourable one. I therefore send the following return:— The average take for the past thirty-eight seasons has been 989. It has often been said that perfect seclusion is an absolute requisite for the successful working of a decoy. In this instance, although the pipes and the adjacent water are kept perfectly quiet, a high road runs at a very short distance from the decoy, and the Ducks may be seen on the water from passing vehicles. Little inconvenience is experienced from this, as the fowl soon become accustomed to such sights, and it is only sudden or strange sights or sounds which cause alarm. Very few Teal are taken here now, and only an occasional Wigeon, as the decoy is not worked after the end of February, which is too early for the spring migration of these birds. The only other fowl are a few Pintails, and now and then a Shoveler, Goosander, or Coot.— (Norwich).

Nesting Notes.—Mr. Aplin is quite correct in noting (ante, p. 143) my omission of the Robin from the list of birds which have used nesting-boxes