266 DISTRIBUTION OF THE BIRDS OF SUFFOLK. 



fashioned hedgerows must have told against thera. The 

 Ring-Dove, in fine, possibly from the same cause, in part, 

 but chiefly from the greater cultivation of turnips, has 

 immensely multiplied of late years ; it has also increased by 

 large migratory flocks in the autumn.* Until lately the 

 bird catchers did much to reduce the numbers of the song 

 birds, more especially the Goldfinch, the Bullfinch, and the 

 Nightingale, multitudes of which were taken annually. 

 Since the passing of the Wild Birds' Protection Act, they 

 have appeared in much greater abundance. 



There are a few birds, which are found more especially 

 on the heath and among furze ; such are the Short-Eared 

 Owl, the Stonechat, the Whinchat, and the Nightjar, or 

 Goatsucker, which occur more or less commonly in all the 

 districts. There is one species however, the Dartford 

 Warbler, which is always found in such localities, but is 

 recorded as yet in three districts only, and in these but 

 rarely. It has been observed mostly not far from the sea, 

 and is not known to have nested. 



Something must now be said about the water birds. Of 

 those which are found on the Broads, Meres, and fresh-water 

 and tidal Lakes, the Great-crested Grebe, the Coot, and the 

 Shoveller are perhaps the most characteristic, though many 

 other ducks and waders are found there in greater or less 

 frequency at all times. The Heron, while occurring now 

 and then wherever there is water and fish, is to be 

 regarded as amongst the most conspicuous ornaments of the 

 Broads and Lakes. The Beed Bunting, though met with 

 in many other places, may be observed iu immense numbers 

 and to the fullest advantage upon the Broads during the 

 summer months, more especially perhaps upon Oulton. 

 The Beed Warbler, a much less common bird, may also be 

 looked upon as par excellence a bird of the Broads, where it 

 builds its beautiful nest plentifully. The Bearded Titmouse, 

 yearly becoming more scarce in the county, and in many 

 places extinct, still survives on Oulton Broad, and was, 



* If the turnip-crops be bad, Ring as they do any other district under 

 Doves leave Suffolk in the autumn, just similar conditions. (A. Newton in litt.) 



