INTRODUCTION. 



Turtle-Dove, the Missel-Thrush, and the Long-eared 

 Owl, all more or less scarce within a comparatively short 

 period, are now, through the attractions of our woods 

 and fir-coverts, become plentifully distributed through- 

 out the county, and from the same cause the little 

 Golden-crested Wren, with the Coal and Marsh-Titmice 

 have greatly increased in numbers of late years. The 

 Woodcock remains with us to breed more frequently, 

 and the Hawfinch (Coccothraustes vulgaris), from some 

 cause not so easily explainable, may be classed as a 

 resident, though till lately considered only as a scarce 

 winter visitant. 



Amongst minor influences, however, prejudicial in 

 a general sense, or affecting certain species or groups 

 in particular, may be instanced the cheapness of fire- 

 arms, and the consequent increase of gunners, together 

 with a ready access by railroad to all parts of the 

 county. To these must be added, also, a wholesale 

 and indiscriminate system of egging, and through 

 the modern taste for collecting, the high prices offered 

 for rarities in both birds and eggs. But these, after 

 all, are but secondary causes, since egging, shooting, 

 and collecting combined had failed to exterminate 

 certain marsh-breeders, which yet vanished altogether 

 with the altered features of their favourite haunts, and 

 year by year the same operations are slowly but surely 

 extending their influences. Indeed, were it possible, to 

 restore the whole face of the county to its former con- 

 dition, we should win back, even now, many feathered 

 emigrants, and that this is no idle speculation has 

 been already shown by the fact that, after the great 

 flood in the winter of 1852-3, no less than three 

 species remained to breed in the Fens about Feltwell 

 and Hockwold, previously unknown in those parts for 

 many years. The success, too, which has attended the 



