DISTRIBUTION OF THE BIRDS OF SUFFOLK. 259 



and Yarmouth, such as those at Gorleston, Belton, and 

 Hopton. 



The large tract of loose blowing sand, below which there 

 is chalk at various depths, lying in the north-west part of 

 the county, and known as the u Breck District," is a more 

 peculiar feature. Its extent may be pretty well estimated 

 by the open character of the unshaded map published by 

 Morris in connection with his Gazetteer. Large portions of 

 it have probably never been under cultivation, but such 

 grounds as were " broken-up" by the plough obtained 

 the name of " brecks," by which name the whole district 

 has become known. This great district was once much more 

 open than it is at present, now that fir plantations have 

 been largely introduced ; more land is also employed for 

 the production of root-crops and of cereals, not only of rye, 

 as formerly, but also of barley and even wheat. Even 

 now hedges are few and far between, and there is very 

 little water. It has been supposed by some that an arm 

 of the sea once came up from the South Suffolk coast to 

 Thetford (see above under Ringed Plover). Prof. Newton 

 and Dr. Hind think that it is quite possible that an arm of 

 the Wash may have reached Thetford from the west, and 

 that the Wash itself may have extended as far perhaps 

 as Brandon, Wangford also, and Lakenheath, being on its 

 shores; but they do not believe that the sea could have come 

 in from the eastward. Compare Barett in Trans, of Norf. and 

 Norw. Nat. Soc. for 1870-1, p. 63). Dr. Taylor, however, 

 thinks that the marine plants found about Thetford are 

 attracted by the soda which enters into the drift sand of 

 the felspar, that the marine insects are attracted by the 

 plants, and the sea birds by both ; so that the hypothesis of 

 the sea having once advanced so far is, he considers, open 

 to doubt. 



The woods and plantations in the county are almost 

 entirely of modern growth ; some timber is also 

 scattered about, but trees of all kinds are diminishing 

 in many parts and perhaps generally ; ancient forests, 

 such as those at Staverton and Fakenham, are very rare, 



