246 CATALOGUE OF THE BIRDS OF SUFFOLK. 



"Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola, L. 



S. and W. Cat. 47. 



Districts all. Found throughout the county more or less commonly 

 in different years, where there are woods. Has long been observed in 

 great numbers on the coast in the autumn, and also flying in the evening 

 or night in the interior ; the bird is thus peculiarly liable to accidents, 

 and has often been killed by striking against the lanterns of lighthouses, 

 or telegraph wires ; one out of a flock flying over Ipswich early in 

 1866 was impaled on the arrow of the vane of a church (Pennant, 

 Br. Z. ii., 436 ; Hele, Aid. 122 ; A. P. Smith in Z. 2nd S. 271). 

 Has bred at Herringfleet (Col. Leathes), Yoxford (F. Spalding), Ufford 

 (G. T. Rope), Butley (Lord Rendlesham), Brettenham (S. and W.), 

 Melford (Capt. Bence), Hinderclay (Foster-Melliar), Ixworth (G. T. 

 Rope), Woolpit Wood (Col. Parker;, and Felsham (F. Clarke). _ Very 

 heavy specimens have occurred; one at Hadleigh in or about 1770 is said 

 to have weighed 24 oz. ! (the usual weight lying between 11 and 14oz.); 

 a very large one was killed at Thornham about 1875 (Yarrell Br. B. ii., 

 595 (Ed. 1843) Lord Henniker v. v. C. B. !). The following varieties 

 have been noticed. A small red female in a garden at Yarmouth June 

 14, 1873 (Stevenson in Z. 2nd S. 3713); a fulvous bird shot in Stan- 

 stead Wood Dec. 12, 1846 (Capt. Bence); a piebald example at Lowes- 

 toft Manor 1859 (figured in Young England Hi., 213); and a pure white 

 bird seen at Corton, about April 20, 1873 (H. Stevenson u. s. 3712). Has 

 been only occasionally observed in March and April (the breeding 

 months);' it is especially met with at Aldborough (and probably in 

 general on the coast) from September to November inclusive (Hele, 

 Aid., 122). The bulk of these birds appear to come into this county in 

 the end of September or in October, and leave early in March. A few 

 remain during the summer (S. and W. u. s. ; Lord Rendlesham in Hit.). 

 An ample account of this species in East Anglia may be seen in Stev. 

 B. of JV'. 272-298. 



Great Snipe, Gallinago major (Gmelin). 



A specimen from Suffolk, formerly in Montagu's Col- 

 lection, is now in the British Museum. — S. and W. Cat. 47. 

 Norfolk specimens only mentioned. — Spalding, List, xxxvii. 

 Rather rare. 



East Suffolk. 



1. Yarmouth, not uncommon in the autumn (Paget, Y. 9); one 

 killed there in Mr. Hillen's possession (Hillen v. v.); another in Mr. 

 Clarke's (W. Clarke in lift). About eight appeared in the neighbourhood 

 of Yarmouth and Lowestoft Sept. 1880 ; one shot at Carlton Colville on 



