228 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



nesting of this species'* in Norfolk has hitherto been at 

 all suspected. Mr. Lubbock, who describes this bird as 

 very irregular in appearance and uncertain in numbers, 

 states that e ' many years ago, when a large tract of marsh 

 dykes were cleaned out, at Caistor, near Yarmouth, the 

 wood, as well as the green species, were for a time quite 

 abundant," showing in this respect a similar partiality 

 for the dark peaty soil of the drains. 



Of more recent occurrences the following are the 

 only examples with which I am acquainted : 



1847. April. One recorded by Messrs. Gurney and 

 Fisher in the "Zoologist" (p. 1769), as killed at Yar- 

 mouth, about the end of April. 



1848. May. Three specimens recorded by the same 

 authors (" Zoologist," p. 2185) as killed near Yarmouth 

 about the 9th of May. 



1849. August 2nd. Two specimens, male and 

 female, recorded by Mr. L. H. Irby in the ei Zoologist " 

 (p. 3035) as shot at Yarmouth. 



1852. On the 5th of May, during the great flood 

 in Hockwold Fen, before mentioned, Mr. A. Newton 

 saw a bird which he had every reason to think was 

 of this species, and on the following day at the same 

 place a pair. May 28th. A single bird was killed at 

 Sutton ; and three more at Yarmouth during the same 

 week. 



1854. April 22. One near Yarmouth ; and on the 

 1st of July a bird, which I examined in the flesh, was 

 sent up to Norwich to be preserved, together with a 

 green sandpiper, a redshank, and a grey plover, all shot 



* Mr. Hewitson (" Eggs of British Birds," 3rd ed., 2nd vol., p. 

 332) states that " on the 3rd of June, 1853, Mr. Hancock, after a 

 long and persevering watch succeeded in discovering the nest and 

 eggs of this species for the first time in Britain, at Prestwick Carr, 

 near Newcastle." * * * " The nest was situated on a hillock, 

 in a marshy part of the carr, amongst heather and long grass." 



