98 AN EAST COAST NATURALIST 



chance one occasionally drops in and makes his 

 presence felt in the surrounding villages, and com- 

 plaints are heard from one and another marshman 

 that his ducks have suffered, or some pigeon fancier 

 has a complaint to make. All its movements are 

 characterised by a courage and dash that at least 

 command the notice if not the admiration of those 

 who meet with it. The Broadmen term it "the 

 game hawk"; and some could tell of its boldness 

 in chasing its quarry under the very noses of the 

 angry owners. Lubbock 1 mentions the fact of a 

 Peregrine striking at Coots disturbed by an 

 approaching boat, killing two within a very short 

 distance from the startled rower. 



A few years ago, when some sportsmen, unarmed 

 at that moment, were gossiping on the Bure walls 

 near the Market Gardens (now built upon), they 

 observed some ducks passing over seawards from 

 Breydon. Suddenly out from a tree dashed a 

 Peregrine, and singling out a Wigeon, it struck the 

 bird, which fell just over the hedge. Through 

 the hedge one of the men scrambled, and ap- 

 propriated the fowl ere the disappointed Falcon 

 could claim it for his own. 



1 Observations on the Fauna of Norfolk, 



