66 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



There was to be seen, for many years, the wreck 

 of a steamboat nearly opposite the north battery. 

 This was covered with a mass of sea-anemones and 

 other marine creatures. Certain tides of unusual 

 strength occasionally washed off a number of these 

 "hangers on," and the gulls Herring Gulls in 

 particular would at low water and at the early 

 part of the tide muster in some numbers and glean 

 up whatever edible came to hand. 



The Herons frequenting Breydon spend much of 

 their time watching for and capturing eels. The 

 patience with which they will stand, rigid and 

 motionless, for many minutes together, is as remark- 

 able as their celerity and accuracy of aim in striking 

 and seizing an eel unfortunate enough to come 

 within reach. A Heron on one occasion struck and 

 secured an eel not far short of a pound and a half in 

 weight which would be somewhat thicker than a 

 broom handle. He had a regular tussle with it, and 

 might eventually have mastered and devoured it, had 

 not two Hooded Crows attacked him, making him 

 drop it upon the mud flat, when they descended, 

 with the intention of appropriating it for themselves. 

 They had already disembowelled it when a Breydoner 

 rowed up and landed, putting them to flight. The 



