220 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



pond at Weybourne, in March, 1889. Mr. Booth met 

 with this species on Heigham Sounds in March, and 

 on Hiclding Broad in April, 1873 ; on April 6th, 1888, 

 Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun., saw an old male at Fritton, 

 which was very tame, allowing him to row to within 

 forty yards ; William Hewitt reported to Mr. Blofeld 

 that he saw two on Hoveton Broad in the middle 

 of May, 1862 ; and Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun. (" Zoologist," 

 1880, p. 404), saw one in Norwich market in the month 

 of July, fchey have however never been known to 

 breed here. Mr. Lubbock strongly suspected a pair of 

 nesting on Horsey mere, where he constantly saw them 

 after all the other fowl had departed. " The last time I 

 saw them together," says Mr. Lubbock, " was on May 

 12th ; on the 26th I saw the drake just in the same part 

 of the water, swimming alone. I took great pains to 

 find the nest which I think must have existed, but could 

 not." At that time Mr. Lubbock was not aware of the 

 peculiar site chosen for its nest by this species, and 

 subsequently attributed his want of success to con- 

 finino- his search to the marsh. Then follow some 

 remarks, almost prophetic in their nature, which are 

 so characteristic of Sir. Lubbock as a naturalist, and so 

 descriptive of some parts of the broads, even at the 

 present time, that they are quite worth quoting. " I 

 have been particular on this point, as, in this district, 

 no part of ornithology demands more attention than the 

 nests of water birds. Many marshes, which are regu- 

 larly traversed by means of boats, and the ditches cut, 

 in the autumn and winter, are, in the summer, pathless 

 wilds of water, sedge, and reed : ' We can't get about 

 there till the marshes are mown,' is a phrase familiar to 

 all who have known the Norfolk broads. Even the 

 heron sometimes nests in these situations, and the eggs 

 are unmolested, as no one can reach them. 



" When we consider that new species are continually 

 discovered amongst us — when we know what observa- 

 tion every year brings to light — there is just room 

 for hope that the increased ardour with which natural 

 history is now followed, will show some cases in which 

 birds not now suspected of it, occasionally nest in the 

 Norfolk fens." 



