CATALOGUE OF THE BlRDS OF SUFFOLK. 101 



A very rare summer migrant hitherto found only in East 

 Suffolk, near the coast. 



Fam, Alcedinid^:. 



Kingfisher, Alcedo ispida, L. 



S. and W. Cat. 3 1 . Seems to be subject to a partial 

 migration, as it comes up the river Gipping every autumn. 

 — Spald. List, xxxvii. (Catalogued only). 



Districts all. Recorded as common or not uncommon except at 

 Shotley (Kerry), Bramford (Haward), Gazeley (Tearle), and Eattlesden 

 (Col. Parker), where it is said to be somewhat rare. 



Nests have been observed at Frit-ton (Leathes), Halesworth (T. Hilling, 

 v.v.), Beatings (E. J. Moor),Melford(Westropp),Hadleigh (F. Spalding), 

 Polstead (Cooke), and Barnham (A. Newton). 



Found over the whole county in small numbers, more 

 abundant near the sea. Canon Moor gives an interesting 

 account of Kingfishers' nests in a crag-pit. He considered 

 that the holes they built in had been formed by themselves. 

 (Z. 2nd S. 2022). Their nests are sometimes found far from 

 any water. (S. and W. u. s. and Hilling v. v.). Mr. Fisher 

 suspected that a migration took place at ¥ armouth in August 

 and September (Z. 766) ; Mr. J. H. Gurney, jun. thinks it is 

 clear that there is a large autumn migration there, he has seen 

 an extraordinary number which had been killed on Breydon 

 at that time (in lilt.). Mr. Tuck considers it to be also to a 

 certain extent migratory at Aldeburgh [Z. 2nd S. 3799). 



Fam. Meropid^;. 



Bee Eater, Merops apiaster, L. 



S. and W. Cat. 31. Spald. List, xxxvii. 

 East Suffolk, 



1 . One shot near Yarmouth, in the collection of the late Mr. Seaman 

 of Ipswich (S. and W. u. s.). Mr. Lubbock speaks of one in 1845, 

 as killed lately at Yarmouth (quoted in Stev. B. of N. i. 313). An 

 immature bird killed at Gisleham many years ago, in the Norwich 

 Museum (Stev. B. of A 7 "., u. s.) One at Beccles in spring 1825 ; in 

 possession of Mrs. Howman (Yarrell's Br. B. ii. 202, Ed. 1843). 



2. Killed on a white thorn at Blythburgh in May ; in possession of 



