64 . BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



The late Mr. J. D. Hoy, in a letter to Mr. Yarrell, 

 alluding to the abundance of this species on the sandy 

 plains of Norfolk, remarks, ^^ great numbers have been 

 caught in most seasons by the subscription heron hawks, 

 at Didlington Hall; they have been known to take 

 refuge in a rabbit-burrow when pursued by the hawk." 

 But, as compared with the common curlew (Numenms 

 arquata), the great plover is described by the authors 

 of " Falconry in the British Isles " (p. 6Q) as reluctant 

 to "• take the air," and usually showing but little sport. 



GLAREOLA TORQUATA, Meyer. 

 COLLAEED PRATINCOLE. 



This rare straggler is recorded as having occurred 

 several times in this county, but I have been unable to 

 ascertain authentic particulars of more than three or, 

 at most, four sj^ecimens. 



In the month of May, 1827,* as stated by the Messrs. 

 Paget, a pair of Pratincoles were shot on Breydon- 



* In a letter, written by Mr. J. D. Hoy to the late Mr. 

 Selby, publisliod by Dr. Bree in the " Field" of November 9th, 1867 

 (p. 385), with other interesting particulars respecting Mr. Hoy's 

 collection, the following very singular passage occurs with refer- 

 ence to this species : — " On the 20th of May, 1827, a pair of the 

 pratincole were shot near Yarmouth. A few oftliem, breed annually 

 in the fens near Yarmouth, in the same locality as the ruffs, xvith 

 ivhich they are sometimes tahen." Mr. Hoy's thorough acquaintance 

 with our eastern coast and the entire " broad district," renders this 

 passage the more inexplicable, but whatever bird, through some 

 lapsus calami, may have been here confounded with the pratincole, 

 there can be no question that this rare species was at no time a 

 resident in our marshes, or otherwise, than it now is, a very rare 

 and accidental visitant. 



