78 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



flying about the vicinity of Yarmouth with a long 

 piece of string depending from its mandibles: to 

 this most probably was attached a hook that had 

 become fast in its gullet. The bird could always 

 be distinguished by this means even when flying 

 amongst a flock of its fellows. 



It was a common sight, when gunning was more 

 " profitably " pursued, owing to the greater number 

 of birds frequenting Breydon, to see Dunlins or 

 other small wading birds, minus one leg, hopping 

 about on the remaining member, and as adroitly 

 capturing sandhoppers and Gammaridce as their 

 unmutilated companions. And birds, too, with 

 parts or pieces of mandibles broken off by gun- 

 shots were not infrequently shot, showing that, in 

 spite of apparently disqualifying conditions, the un- 

 fortunate sufferers had outlived their mishaps, and 

 were still game for gaining a livelihood. 



On 4th October 1903 my attention was attracted 

 by a bird several hundred yards away upon a flat. 

 I turned my glasses upon it, and was for the 

 moment inclined to imagine it a Glossy Ibis, of 

 which species one had recently been shot. The 

 "face" was black, giving the mandibles a singular 

 appearance. Presently the bird opened its wings, 



