A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



may perhaps be classed as a resident, as a few 

 pairs probably still breed on some of the 

 furze commons. 



20. Goldcrest. Regulus cristatus, K. L. Koch 

 Locally, Teapot, possibly from the shape of its 



nest. 

 A resident, receiving large additions in 

 autumn. There is nothing more interesting 

 in the autumn migration than the crossing of 

 the wild North Sea by this 'shadow of a bird,' 

 as Gilbert White called it. On 1 5 October, 

 1883, fourteen were killed by striking the 

 lantern of the Shipwash lightship, which lies 

 about five miles south-east of Orford. Dr. 

 Babington seems to have been very doubtful 

 about the claim of the firecrest [R. ignicapillui) 

 to a place in the Suffolk list, and as there 

 appear to be no further records the species is 

 omitted here. 



21. Chiffchaff. Phylloscopus rufUs (Bechstein) 

 The local names of ' ground oven ' and 



'oven bird' are common to this species and the 

 willow-warbler from the shape of their nests. 

 The chiffchaff is a summer migrant, arriving 

 in March and announcing its presence by the 

 often repeated note from which it takes its 

 name. 



22. Willow - Warbler. Phylloscopus trochilus 



(Linn.) 

 A summer migrant, building a domed nest 

 lined with feathers like that of the chiffchaff, 

 but the eggs can be distinguished by their 

 pale red markings, while those of the chiffchaff 

 are spotted with purple or claret colour. 



23. Wood-Warbler. Phylloscopus sibilatrix 



(Bechstein) 



A much more uncommon summer migrant. 

 The bird is larger and greener than either 

 of the two species just mentioned, its nest 

 contains no feathers, and the eggs are much 

 more closely marked with dark red or purple. 



24. Reed - Warbler. Acrocephalus streperus 



(Vieillot) 



A local summer migrant, restricted to 

 places where the reeds afford it shelter and 

 also the requisite support for its beautiful 

 nest. It is plentiful in the reeds which fringe 

 and in some places completely cover the river 

 Waveney. The very similar marsh-warbler 

 (y/. palustris), which has occurred in Norfolk, 

 will doubtless be sooner or later identified in 

 Suffolk, and any basket-like nest found in an 

 osier-bed, or suspended from the stalks of the 

 meadow-sweet, should be carefully watched 

 with thi« object in view. 



25. Sedge-Warbler. Acrocephalus phragmitis 



(Bechstein) 

 A very common summer migrant, which 

 seems to be especially fond of the sound of 

 its own voice, as it may be heard before day- 

 light and after dusk. A rare kindred species 

 known as the aquatic warbler {A. aquaticus) 

 has been obtained in Norfolk, and ' the con- 

 spicuous buff streak down the middle of the 

 crown of the aquatic warbler is an unfail- 

 ing mark of distinction between this species 

 and the sedge warbler ' (Saunders' Manualy 

 p. 88) 



26. Grasshopper-Warbler. Locustella navia 



(Boddaert) 

 A local summer migrant, much more often 

 heard than seen, which builds a nest so well 

 concealed in rough grass or a low bush that 

 very few nest-hunting boys have ever seen 

 its red-mottled eggs, or even know of the 

 existence of the bird. The grasshopper- 

 warbler looks very dark in colour when 

 flushed from her nest, and as she goes off 

 spreads her tail to its fullest extent, so that 

 when once seen under these circumstances 

 she can always be recognized again. 



27 



Accentor modularis 



Hedge - Sparrow. 



(Linn.) 

 Locally, Hedge-Betty. 

 A common resident, though many are also 

 migratory. Its moss-built, hair-lined nest 

 and lovely blue eggs are well known to every 

 one. As in the case of the blackbird, five 

 eggs are rarely found till the second nest is 

 built. 



28. Alpine Accentor. Accentor collaris (Sco- 



poli) 

 This very rare visitant has never been ob- 

 tained in the county, but has been twice 

 seen by excellent observers, the first time in 

 1824 at Oulton by the Rev. R. Lubbock, 

 and again in September, 1894, at Gorleston 

 Pier by Mr. Patterson {Zoologist for 1900, 

 p. 400) 



29. Dipper. Cinclus aquaticus, Bechstein 

 This species, though common enough in 



many parts of England, is a very rare visitant 

 to Suffolk. Dr. Babington also records the 

 occurrence of the northern form, which has 

 a black breast. 



30. Bearded Reedling or Tit. Panurus biar- 



micus (Linn.) 

 Norfolk appears to be the only county in 

 the British Islands in which this beautiful 

 little bird is now (1903) a resident. It was 



182 



