XIV INTKODUCTION. 



not only a place of ^^call" for periodical migrants, but a 

 welcome haven to the storm-driven wanderer or chance 

 straggler from all quarters of the globe. Birds in their 

 wanderings are apt to follow coast lines,^ especially in 

 autumn, when seeking their winter quarters to the 

 southward — a bird, therefore, striking the east coast of 

 Scotland, or north-east of England, follows the land 

 southward and is ^' brought up " sharp by Norfolk, 

 which first presents an obstacle to its soutlierly progress. 

 Consequently its stay here is somewhat protracted, and 

 it becomes observed, and most commonly killed if rare or 

 particularly attractive in plumage. And thus it happens 

 that a classified listf of the birds of Norfolk shows an 

 excess of migrants over residents amounting to nearly 

 two-thirds, whilst the latter are even outnumbered by 

 rare and accidental visitants. However much then the 

 habits of certain birds may have been affected, of late 

 years, by local causes, the actual number of species in 

 the Norfolk list appears still on the increasej — the 

 study of ornithology as a popular science having led 

 to the identification of many formerly overlooked, and 

 rarities being far too keenly sought for to pass long 

 unnoticed. 



* Birds, also, striking the coast of Norway, and following that to 

 the Naze, attempt to cross the North Sea in the same general direc- 

 tion, and consequently alight upon Norfolk. In this way Professor 

 Newton is inclined to explain the occasional appearance on our 

 coast of American Sandpipers and Ducks. 



t A statistical table of species will be found appended to the 

 second volume, showing under the head of Residents the indi- 

 genous birds, and those which receive additions to their numbers 

 in autumn and winter; and under the head of Migrants, the 

 periodical, occasional, and accidental visitants. 



X In 1846 Messrs. Gurney and Fisher gave the total number of 

 species as two hundred and seventy- seven, and yet omitting two 

 or three hitherto included on insufficient authority, they amount 

 to not less than two hundred and ninety-one at the present time. 



