78 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



Dowell met witli a small flock of from ten to twelve 

 near the roadway leading on to the beach, at Blakeney, 

 and five were sent up to Norwich from that neigh- 

 bourhood during the same week. On the 9th of May, 

 1857, a single bird, just assuming its full plumage, was 

 shot at East Ruston; and on the 10th of May, 1859, 

 three males and one female were killed at Halvergate. 

 Again, on the 9th of May, 1863, one old bird and three 

 young of the previous year, were sent up to Norwich 

 from Blakeney. A considerable number, according to 

 Messrs. Sheppard and Whitear, ^'were seen in May, 

 1816, in the parts westward of Burnham," near the 

 coast, and Mr. Lubbock states that one or two have 

 been killed so near Norwich as " the verge of Mousehold 

 heath," and that on one occasion, many years ago, a flock 

 of fifty appeared in the parish of Eccles, of which a sports- 

 man, who went in pursuit of them, obtained fourteen. 



In west Norfolk, however, the more open " brecks " 

 and warrens, from all time, and, of late years, the 

 reclaimed portions of the " fens" have presented, from 

 their wild features, peculiar attractions for these passing 

 migrants. "The morinellus or dotterel," writes Sir 

 Thomas Browne, " about Thetford and the Champian, 

 comes unto us in September and March, staying 

 not long, and is an excellent dish."* And in the 

 very same locality, at the present time, although less 

 numerous than in former years, Mr. Bartlett informs 

 me that ^'with a fine April and a warm May," a few 

 " trips" are generally observed on his warren, sometimes 



* In the ITortliTimberland "Houseliold. Book" (Temp. Hen. viii.) 

 dotterel were sold at one penny each, the same price as teal and 

 woodcocks, whilst stints were only twopence per dozen. In the 

 Lord North " Accounts," also, for the Royal banquets at Kirtlinge 

 (Temp. Elizabeth), viij does and iij dotterel were supplied at 

 \U. viijs. According to Yarrell, they fetch from seven to eight 

 shillings a couple in the London market. 



