114 BIRDS OF 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, mingling with small parties of 
sanderlings and dunlins. 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 own 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 the Birds of Belgium” 
(“ Zoologist,” 1846, 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.” 
