52 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



in order to test this predilection, came back time 

 after time. 



A JANUARY IMMIGRATION 



On 18th January 1881 raged a most disastrous 

 gale, when amid snow and storm many vessels 

 were wrecked on Yarmouth beach. The day 

 before was intensely cold, so much so that the 

 large pebbles, still moist from the retreating waves, 

 froze over, and with each wetting the ice formed a 

 thicker incrustation, until they looked like nodules 

 of pure ice. On that date a marked inrush of small 

 land-birds took place. Thousands of Fieldfares and 

 Redwings simply poured in, and for an hour or so 

 they came on like a huge feather snowstorm. They 

 passed almost within arm's length, bewildered, ruffled, 

 and exhausted. I shot some Redwings ; they were 

 exceedingly poor. Various Finches, Linnets, Red- 

 poles, Twites, and the like were to be distinguished ; 

 many dropped upon the sand, huddled in ruts made 

 by the passing of cart-wheels, fell asleep at once, and 

 were to be picked up by hand. A Sparrow, that I 

 recognised by sight, called my attention to his in- 

 coming by his familiar call-note. 



