XV111 INTRODUCTION. 



Probably more rare birds have been killed on Breydon 

 than in any other part of the United Kingdom ; and 

 since, owing to the experienced eyes and constant 

 watchfulness of our fowlers few rarities escape them, 

 in several instances, as shown by Yarrell and others, 

 species new to the British list have been procured 

 here for the first time.* A low embankment surrounds 

 the whole area of these " flats," and protects the sur- 

 rounding marshes, now drained for grazing purposes, 

 from constant inundation ; but they are still at times 

 laid under water from the effects of extremely high 

 tides, or a rainy season, and are then as attractive as 

 ever to the ducks and waders. This large tract of 

 marshes, both salt and fresh water, stretches away for 

 miles to the north of Yarmouth running parallel with 

 and close to the sand-hills at Ormesby, Hemsby, and 

 Wmterton, and the saline character of those nearest 

 to Breydon, as at Caister, Burgh, and Bradwell, is 

 indicated by the large number of shrimps and other 

 Crustacea to be found in the drains. 



Could we now, looking inland from the " Denes " at 

 Yarmouth, obtain a sufficiently elevated position say 

 from the summit of the Nelson Column, if twice its 

 present height, we might take a literally " bird's eye" 

 view of this singularly level district; and tracing 

 back from its junction with Breydon the winding 

 course of the Bure, and its tributaries the Ant and the 

 Thurne, should perceive, with a good glass, the exact 

 localities of the principal Broads in this neighbourhood. 

 First of all, looking in a north-westerly direction over 

 the town of Yarmouth, and within five or six miles, 

 Filby, Rollesby, and Ormesby, a perfect cluster of small 



* Amongst these may be noticed the Broad-billed and Pectoral 

 Sandpipers (Tringa platyrhyncha and T. pectoralis), the Buffel- 

 headed Duck (Fuligula albeola), and the Hooded Merganzer 

 (Mergus cucullatus.) 



