114 BIRDS OP NORFOLK. 



and other marine substances in search of food, it is known 

 by the appropriate name of " Tangle-picker," Mr. Dowell 

 has observed small flocks of seven or eight in the harbour 

 as early as the 20th and 29th of July ; and on the 30th of 

 July, 1852, he noticed several families in the "narrows" 

 apparently just arrived, ming-lmg with small parties of 

 sanderlings and dmilins. By the middle of September 

 he has known them arrive more thickly; and on one 

 occasion, on the 2nd of October, he saw a flock of about 

 fifteen near the "freshes." On the 12th of August, 

 1865, a young bird of the year was killed on Cromer 

 beach; on the 24th of October, 1867, Mr. J. E. Harting 

 shot a solitary specimen on Breydon ; and on the 13th of 

 November of the same year, two females were killed at 

 Blakeney, whilst my ovni and Mr. Dowell's notes supply 

 instances of their appearance both at Blakeney and on 

 the shores of the Wash in the months of January and 

 February.* At Yarmouth Mr. Frere tells me they are 

 rarely if ever seen in winter. Their spring migration 

 takes place about the second week in May ; and between 

 the 12th and 20th of that month, according to the season, 

 small flocks make their appearance on Breydon, as 

 well as on the beach at Yarmouth and other suitable 

 localities, and these, like the knots, godwits, and grey 

 plover, that arrive at the same time, are for the most 

 part in full nuptial plumage, resting only for a day 

 or so, and then passing on expeditiously to their more 

 northern breeding grounds. Mr. Hewitson discovered 

 several nests of this species in Norway about the middle 

 of June, which would seem from other authors to be its 



* M. Julian Deby, in his " Notes on tlie Birds of Belgium " 

 (" Zoologist," 18-i6, p, 1251), in describing this species as a regular 

 spring and autumn migrant, remarks, " I do not believe that any 

 remain stationary with us during winter, as they are said to do on 

 the English coast." 



