68 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



the poulterers' stalls only birds of this species. Mr. 

 Booth (Catalogue of Birds) speaks of having seen at 

 one time between fifty and sixty flying in company 

 over Hickling Broad. 



In October 1881 the late John Thomas, punt 

 gunner, bagged three Swans to a shot from his 

 swivel-gun, and two others immediately after to a 

 shoulder-gun. They were swimming about tamely 

 and unconcernedly on Breydon. Delighted with his 

 prowess, " Johnny " made haste for home, where, on 

 hooks outside the shop window, they were soon seen 

 hanging; and in front of the shop the gunner 

 proudly paraded. On calling his attention to the 

 fact that they were tame, escaped birds, he hastily 

 pulled them down, and disappeared inside with 

 them. 



In the old days, when the allotments were yet a 

 watery waste, Swans dropped in and were stalked 

 from behind a borrowed horse or donkey, several of 

 which were usually to be found feeding upon the 

 higher portions of this marshy waste. 



On 25th October 1890 I saw three Polish Swans 

 (C. immutabilis) hanging on Durranfs stall in the 

 market. Reporting the same to Mr. T. Southwell, 

 F.Z.S., he wrote, " Did you notice the colour of the 



