BIRD NOTES 93 



incessant cry of " Sme-u, Sme-u ! " testifying to the 

 satisfaction a goodly supply of provender affords 

 them. The local gunners in the old days welcomed 

 these merry gatherings of "Smee," as they named 

 them from their cry. To-day they congregate in 

 peace. 



On 20th April 1900, at very low water, when 

 the windings of the "Ship Drain" were mostly 

 hidden by the edges of the flats, I twice unexpectedly 

 sailed through a large flock, mostly males. They 

 rose as I dashed round a bend into their midst, and 

 again as I doubled another, beyond which they had 

 settled very shortly after my first intrusion. On 

 16th March 1889 I estimated the number of Wigeon 

 on Breydon at something like 5000 birds. 



The Teal is becoming yearly scarcer. Golden-eyes 

 (Clangula glaucwn) are common in " hard " weather ; 

 and with the Tufted Duck (Fuligula cristata) and 

 the Scaup (F. marild) are known as " hard- weather 

 fowl." The Pochard, nicknamed the " Poker," is far 

 less abundant than formerly on Breydon, although 

 in protracted winters I have known "crowds" to 

 be seen in the open places on the frozen Broads. 

 In the severe weather of December 1890 some 

 Pochards brought to Durrant's stall were so hard- 



