BIRD NOTES 29 



not letting it once protrude in its efforts to back 

 out of such an unwonted place. 



A Bittern was shot a few years since which 

 appeared to be in uncommonly good plight. On 

 dissection, however, a small pike, fourteen inches in 

 length, was discovered in its crop. 



A Great Northern Diver, disporting itself among 

 the roach on Horsey Mere, was shot and badly 

 wounded by a Broadland gunner. On being hauled 

 into the boat it threw up thirty-two fish, some of 

 them large enough to be used as bait. This was in 

 January. 



THE SOLITARY SNIPE 



Every autumn the appearance of the Solitary 

 Snipe (Gallinago major) was as regularly looked for, 

 up to the late 'seventies, as was September itself. 

 After this period, in consequence of an increased 

 traffic upon the sandhills and in the locality around, 

 a marked diminution became apparent. Gunners in 

 those days went intentionally in search of them 

 amongst the marams, where they dropped in tired 

 with their flight. This Snipe is usually in good 

 condition on arrival. It "laid" remarkably close, 

 and would allow itself to be all but trodden upon 



