134 BIRDS OF NOEFOLK. 



and began to breed about half a mile further off in 

 this large Scotch fir-wood, where they are far more 

 picturesque, and a great portion of the old heronry 

 having been since demolished the park has thereby 

 been greatly improved. At the present time, this still 

 thriving colony boasts of some sixty or sixty-five nests. 



The following particulars respecting the past history 

 of the Earlham heronry, near Norwich, which, with 

 its branch establishments at Costessey and Taverham, 

 ranks next in importance, have been kindly supplied me 

 by Mr. J. H. Gurney, "About the year 1810, an oak 

 wood, near Acle,* long tenanted by a colony of herons, 

 was cut down, and the birds thus deprived of their old 

 haunt, migrated to a rookery, at Keswick, near Norwich ; 

 but here, owing either to the persecution of the rooks 

 or to the underwood being burnt on one occasion, they 

 did not remain later than about the year, 1830, some of 

 them having probably left before that date. They now 

 attempted to establish themselves at Taverham, but 

 were driven away by the gamekeepers; and, though a 

 few remained about Taverham and Costessey, the main 

 body removed to a Scotch fir-grove (since cut down), at 

 Newfound, from which, after one season, they crossed 

 the river to the Scotch fir-grove at Earlham." Here 

 they again came into collision with the rooks, but as the 

 young plantation by the pond grew up they removed 

 thither from the Scotch fir-grove, and Earlham, until 

 the memorable gale which occurred on the 28th of 

 February, 1860, remained their chief stronghold; their 

 numbers amounting, I am told, in some seasons to 

 between eighty and a hundred pairs. The effects of this 

 gale, happening at so critical a period when the old 



* Hunt, in his "British Ornithology," mentions this Acle 

 heronry and the fights which occurred for possession between the 

 rooks and herons. 



