2yz The Field Naturalist' s Quarterly Nov. 



the autumn, but enough has been written already to show 

 that, although — as compared with the wealth of spring and 

 summer — this may be set out as the field naturalist's quiet 

 season, the autumn flora supplies many an interesting study 

 if practically pursued. 



Norfolk Broads in Autumn. 



By Rev. M. C. H. Bird, M.A., M.B.O.U. 



So far as the bird - life of the district is concerned, the 

 first conspicuous sign of coming autumn is discoverable 

 in the great evening gatherings of Martins and Swallows 

 upon the reeds. These twittering assemblies are com- 

 posed of the first broods reared in every sand-pit and 

 chimney-stack and under every roof-eave of the neighbour- 

 hood. Very different in behaviour at bedtime are these 

 gentle birds to the quarrelsome Starlings, which, a month 

 or two later, will resort to and replace the peaceable 

 Swallows in this odd roosting site : odd, I say, for who 

 with no previous experience of this habit would expect to 

 find birds which everybody must be familiar with as 

 breeding under cover, spending the cold night by the 

 water-side ? There is indeed more excuse for the Swallow 

 tribe perching here than for the Starlings, for with the 

 first morning light a plentiful breakfast will be at hand 

 for them ; whereas the latter birds do not find their first 

 meal around the reed -beds, but, dividing into little com- 

 panies, betake themselves on waking to the arable land and 

 grazing marshes for miles around. There their presence 

 will be welcomed by the observant agriculturist, for they 

 are indefatigable in their search after wireworms — one of 

 the most troublesome of farmers' foes, destructive alike to 

 the roots of grasses, autumn -sown wheat and oats, and 

 spring - sown barley and mangold. But the marshman 

 objects to the Starlings spending the night on the reed, 

 for the very good reason that by doing so they much 

 reduce the value thereof for thatching purposes, breaking 



