A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK 



lOi. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. Dtndro- 

 copus minor (Linn.) 



This is much the smallest of the three 

 British woodpeckers, and is a resident as 

 common as the great spotted, but seldom seen. 

 It is difficult to say whether the local names 

 of ' wood-jar,' * wood-nail ' and ' grain-bird ' 

 are meant for this bird or the larger species, 

 as the singular noise alluded to above and 

 suggested by the names is common to both. 

 ' Grain-bird ' may have some connection with 

 the ' grain ' of the wood, and was given by 

 an intelligent old labourer who accurately des- 

 cribed the sound. The tiny nesting-hole of 

 the lesser spotted woodpecker is usually bored 

 in dead wood at some height above the 

 ground, so that to examine the nest and its 

 contents involves some risk. The eggs much 

 resemble those of the wryneck, but are slightly 

 smaller. 



The large black woodpecker {Picus martius) 

 is reported to have been seen in Suffolk, but 

 as its claim to be even a British bird is very 

 doubtful, nothing but the production of a 

 specimen in the flesh in so fresh a state as to 

 show beyond a doubt that it was not imported 

 from Norway or Sweden will ever satisfy 

 critical naturalists. 



102. Kingfisher. Alcedo ispida, Linn. 



This richly-coloured little bird is a resident, 

 breeding in the banks of streams and some- 

 times in the side of a crag-pit {Zoologist, 1870, 

 p. 2,022). It seems also to a certain extent 

 to be migratory, as many are observed about 

 dykes and rivers near the coast in the autumn, 

 and one was killed by striking the Orford 

 lighthouse on 25 March, 1884, which sug- 

 gests that the bird had wintered in the south, 

 and was returning to breed in Suffolk. The 

 kingfisher bores a hole for itself, and fresh 

 ' whitewash ' at the entrance is a pretty sure 

 sign that the eggs are laid. It is an early 

 breeder, as even in the north of England a 

 full clutch of seven eggs has been found by 

 the middle of April. Occasionally the nest 

 is spoiled by heavy rains flooding the stream 

 and causing the water to rise above the en- 

 trance hole, an instance of which occurred 

 near Woolpit in the early summer of 1889. 

 Few birds suffered more than the kingfisher 

 in the frost of 1 890-1, which lasted eight 

 weeks and caused the death of many, some 

 from being shot and others from actual star- 

 vation. There were six in the flesh in a 

 shop at Bury on 17 December. 



103. Roller. Coracias garruius, hinn. 

 This splendid bird has occurred a few times 



in the eastern part of the county on its spring 



and autumn migrations, the last recorded 

 having been obtained at Burgh Castle in 

 September, 1892. 



104. Bee-Eater. Merops apiaster, Linn. 



A far rarer visitant to England than the 

 roller, and there are only two or three records 

 from Suffolk. 



105. Hoopoe. Upupa epops, Linn. 



A Suffolk man reporting the appearance 

 of a hoopoe would probably describe it as ' a 

 wholly pretty bird with a topple-crown,' and 

 any one who has once seen it alive is certain to 

 recognize it again. Perhaps it is hardly com- 

 mon enough to be called a regular summer 

 visitant, but most outdoor naturalists in East 

 Anglia have come across it at least once in 

 their career. Near Lowestoft no less than 

 thirteen were obtained in the April and May 

 of 1859, and Mr. Hele used to meet with 

 it from time to time at Aldeburgh. There 

 is no record of it having attempted to breed 

 in the county. 



106. Cuckoo. Cuculus canerus, Linn. 



The year 1894 was a 'record year' for 

 early cuckoos throughout the country, and in 

 Suffolk Colonel Butler observed two at Bret- 

 tenham Park on 4 April. At Tostock the 

 cuckoo was seen and heard on 9 April, but 

 these dates are a good fortnight in advance of 

 the usual time for the arrival of this summer 

 migrant. The following rhymes were lately 

 taken down at the fireside of a cottager, who 

 said he had heard the first * more than sixty 

 year ago ' : — 



In April he show his bill. 



In May he sing night and day, 



In June he change his tune. 



He wait till July, away he fly, 



If he wait till August away he must — go. 



The cuckoo is a pretty bird, he sing as he fly, 

 He bring us good tidings and tell us no lie. 



To the latter another authority adds : 



He suck the pretty birds' eggs to make his voice 



clear. 

 And the more he sing ' cuckoo ' the summer 



draw near. 



This well known bird is found all over Suffolk, 

 and its eggs which are laid from May to July 

 are most often deposited in the nests of the 

 robin, sedge- warbler, reed-warbler, hedge-spar- 

 row, pied wagtail and meadow-pipit. Taking 

 the county through it is probable that more 

 cuckoos' eggs are placed in the nest of the 

 hedge-sparrow than of any other bird, and 

 that the meadow-pipit would come in a 'good 

 second.' The greenfinch, linnet and yellow 

 bunting are less frequently chosen as foster- 



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