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254 NOTES. Purple Herons in Lincolnshire.—On July 31St, 1952

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254 NOTES. Purple Herons in Lincolnshire.—On July 31St, 1952 254 NOTES. Birds with abnormal bills.—With reference to previous notes on this subject (antea, vol. xliv, pp. 60, 349-50; vol. xlv, p. 402), we have received several more records of bill deformities and the following are worth quoting : OYSTERCATCHER (Hcetnatopus ostralegus).—Mr. W. T. C. Rankin records that on August 27th, 1949, at Red Rocks, Hoylake, Cheshire, one was seen by Messrs. C. B. Williams and C. B. Bell with "a bill about six times the length of the head, and with the mandibles crossed." The bird was very lethargic, but otherwise appeared healthy. Some days later, Mr. Rankin received a report from a boy who had picked up on Hilbre Island what appeared from the description to have been an Oystercatcher whose bill "was about three or four times the length" of that of a stuffed specimen which the boy was later shown. STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris).—Mr. Edward Huyton reports that on January 5th, 1953, one with the exceptional bill-length of 55 mm. (approximately twice the normal size) was trapped at Crosby, Lancashire (see plate 35); this bird had been observed on several occasions during the previous year. The bill was straw-yellow at the base and tip, and black-brown in the middle. CORN BUNTING (Emberiza calandra).—On May 25th, 1953, Mr. R. H. Winterbottom saw one near Twyford, Berkshire, with the upper mandible about half an inch longer than the lower, and slightly decurved. The bird was in full song and appeared to be in perfect condition. Mr. A. Denby Wilkinson writes to say that, in his experience, the condition is a common one in poultry, both among adults and chicks; in the case of the latter such abnormalities can be caused by their being- fed on dry mash. It seems that unbalanced feeding of cage-birds can result in these deformities and several instances of a temporary nature are recorded. In this connection it is interesting to note that for some years during the 1930's Mr. W. T. C. Rankin possessed a pair of Australian Zebra Finches (Tceniopyga castanotis) of which the cock continually developed the upper mandible until it had increased by nearly a quarter of an inch in a downward curve. The abnormal part would then drop off, and growth continue as before. The most interesting- point about the record of the Starling noted above seems to be the fact that both mandibles were elongated, and the result perfectly symmetrical—many of the records have referred only to the upper mandible, and where both have been abnormally long the tips have usually been crossed, the main exception being that of the Starling preserved in the Royal Scottish Museum, Edin­ burgh (vide, antea, vol. xliv, p. 349), the bill of which is evidently similar to that of the one recorded here. Purple Herons in Lincolnshire.—On July 31st, 1952, Mr. J. C. Darnell reported the presence of a strange heron at Lambert Hill VOL. XLVI.] NOTES. 255 fish-pond, Brockiesby, Lincolnshire, and I was able to visit the area in his company the same evening'. When first detected the bird was perching on a luxuriant growth of branched bur-reed (Sparganium ramosum) in the adjoining canal, its russet appear­ ance immediately catching the eye. When it rose the dark edges to its wings were very noticeable, as also was the long, slender, snaky neck. The neck and throat both appeared very pale. The legs were light yellowish-green, and the bill was yellow both inside and out (the bird frequently gaped when resting). It was obvious that the bird was a Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea). It was next seen perched on an oak, some forty feet from the ground, and its plumage appeared almost exactly the colour of dead oak-leaves. It had previously been silent, but on this occasion when it flew it called nine or ten times. To my ear the call was indistinguishable from that of the Heron [A. cinerea), though possibly a trifle weaker. Subsequently it was frequently seen on the wing at the same time as the resident Herons, so comparisons were simplified. After a few days Mr. Darnell began to suspect that there was in the area a second bird in similar plumage and this was con­ firmed by Mr. R. May who watched two Purple Herons in the air together on August 12th. The two birds were afterwards seen by various ornithologists, and also by the Earl of Yarborough, the owner of the estate. Many good views were obtained, but at times they were difficult to locate, for when standing amongst aquatic vegetation or grass, with the long, snaky necks extended, they were scarcely detectable. It appears that they roosted on an island in the lake with the Herons. The two were last seen together by my wife and myself on August 31st; on the next day, September 1st, Mr. R. May saw one only and all subsequent visits failed to locate them. There appears to be only one previous record of the Purple Heron in Lincolnshire—that which was shot on the river Witham at Hykeham, near Lincoln, sometime during the second half of the nineteenth century (although information regarding this record seems very meagre). S. A. Cox. [We are very grateful to Reg May in whose company we saw both birds on August 23rd. They were in immature plumage, apparently first summer.—W.B.A., P.A.D.H., I.J.F.-L.] Little Egret in Cornwall.—On March 2nd, 1952, Mr. H. P. O. Cleave and I had splendid views of a Little Egret (Egretta garsetta) on the saltings at Trewornan on the Camel Estuary in Cornwall. We are both familiar with the species having together seen many in the Camargue, south France, in 1951, while I had also seen the one on the Camel in May, 1949 (antea, vol. xliii, pp. 87-88). In the present instance we clearly noted the snow- white plumage, blackish bill, light eye and blackish legs cut off 256 BRITISH BIRDS. [VOL. XLVI. sharply to yellow feet. What was presumably the same bird was seen on March 5th by Mr. J. N. Hobbs, and some days later I watched it fishing- in the little lagoon at Trevilling, near Wade- bridge ; it was racing through the water and snapping right and left. The bird was still in the same area on March 17th. T. J. WILLCOCKS. Little Egret in Norfolk.—On May 7th, 1952, Mr. W. F. Bishop, Warden of the Norfolk Naturalists' Trust's sanctuary on Cley Marsh, Norfolk, reported a small white heron with yellow feet. The bird, which remained till May nth was subsequently seen by many observers and proved to be an adult Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) in full breeding-plumage. The entire plumage was dazzling white with a pendant crest of long narrow feathers and, on the upper-parts, the delicate filigree of the nuptial "osprey" plumes. The bill and tarsi appeared blackish, the latter contrasting with the startlingly yellow toes—an unnecessarily garish feature likened by one observer to "yellow chamois-leather gloves." The bird appeared to feed on insects and small aquatic life on a flooded grazing-marsh, walking briskly about and often dashing to one side like a Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) to "snick" at something in the grass and water. It was at all times alert and distinctly wary; its obvious self- assurance and perfect condition served to rule out the possibility of its being an "escape" from captivity. A unique coloured film was taken by Mr. R. P. Bagnall-Oakeley and portrays perfectly the bird's appearance, habitat, feeding- habits, flight and size compared with a Heron (Ardea cinerea). R. A. RICHARDSON. VOL. XLVI.] NOTES. 257 Little Egret in Carmarthenshire.—On June 7th, 1952, while walking between Wharley Point and Craig Ddu, Carmarthen­ shire, I saw a white heron, which I deemed to be a Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), a species which I have seen in Egypt. The following is taken from a description made at ranges down to 30 yards. Bill: dull black, but once when freshly wet with the sun upon it, it looked grey with a black tip. Body: completely white; long, white crests very noticeable in the breeze; the scapular plumes were visible at 30 yards range when, like the crest- feathers, these soft, delicate plumes were stirred by the breeze. Legs: dull black. Feet: a dull unattractive yellow as it walked through very shallow water, lifting its feet clear of the surface, I thought for a moment or two that its feet were coated with sand. Size: two-thirds that of a Heron (Ardea cinerea). It had an oval shaped body, long slender neck, long legs and Heron-like bill. When first seen it was walking up the shallow stony edge of the river making lightning-like lunges, sometimes following upon a short dash of two or three steps, to secure food —during this performance the body was held horizontally with neck drawn in, but when alarmed by my presence the bird set off smartly along the sand with neck straightened and body tilted. It walked for about 30 yards and then further alarmed by my movement flew, with head drawn in and legs laid back beneath the body, to join a group of 5 Herons and sundry gulls ranged round a pool left by the tide—so that I had an opportunity of judging its size. I saw the bird only on the one day as I was unable to visit the place again. W. G. LUTON. Little Egret in Sussex On June 10th, 1952, Mr.
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