262 DISTRIBUTION OF THE BIRDS OF SUFFOLK. 



more rare birds have been obtained than in any other spot 

 in England.* Lake Lothing is now a tidal lake, two miles 

 long, which extends inwards from Lowestoft harbour, and is 

 separated by a lock from Oulton Broad. About fifty years ago 

 both the Broad and the Lake were fresh water, and a narrow 

 strip of sand divided the lake from the sea. In June, 1831, 

 the salt water was admitted into the lake. Thorpe Mere 

 consists of an area of about a thousand acres, divided into 

 two parts, the First and Second Meres, by a wall of earth. It 

 is partially drained by a system of ditches, but a consider- 

 able quantity of water is at times forced into it both from 

 the higher lands and from the sea (Hele, Aid., 10 — 13). Of 

 fresh water lakes and broadst (i.e., pieces of water formed 

 by the broadening of a stream) there are a few, though these are 

 very inferior in number and magnitude to those of Norfolk ; 

 they lie principally in East Suffolk, where the beautifully 

 wooded lake of Fritton extends over five hundred acres ; 

 Oulton Broad, surrounded by marshes, over a hundred and 

 ten, besides Barnby, Easton, Benacre, Covehithe, and 

 Dunwich BroadsJ, which are not so large. Bosmere now 

 consists of about eight acres, and is a good deal choked up 

 with weeds; a few years ago it was almost twice its present 

 size ; at Eushmere there is a tract of marsh land and ponds 

 by the side of the rivulet which flows into the Deben. At 

 Holbrook and Tattingstone are ornamental lakes of a few 

 acres each. 



There are not many considerable pieces of water in West 



* Breydon divides Norfolk and Suffolk. couple of hours without having visited 



It has been variously regarded as wholly them both. 



in Norfolk, or as wholly in Suffolk ; but . m,„ . -, • , , , , . ,, 



'■•iiiTj i t J-Uc word is not alwavs usedstnctlv 



it must certainly be looked upon as be- &J++™ T 1 ■ x> i ■ ' """"'"J 



t • x i 4.1 t - i ,i • • , * ntton Lake and Brevdon Water are 



longing to both counties by the principles SO metimes called Broads 



of English law, according to which the sometimes caileu BioaOa. 

 medium filum is the dividing line in all + The last, once opposite Minsmere 



such cases. In Cary's Map of "England Haven, is now drained. About fifteen 



the coloured line separating the counties years ago, it was remembered as a piece 



is drawn through the middle of the lake. of water of about seven acres. It is 



A bird seen or shot on Breydon may marked on Cary's map (1792) and from 



safely be regarded as belonging to both it on our own as "The Broad" (G. T. 



counties j it could hardly be there for a Rope in litt.) . 



