142 OBSERVATIONS ON THE 



76. ^NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus europceus). 



A rare bird in the vicinity of Harleston, but more fre- 

 quently met with in Wortwell, Mendham, and Homersfield, on 

 lighter and warmer soils. A young bird was shot at Brockdish 

 last August, and another a few weeks later at Wey bread. At 

 Thorpe Abbots, in the extreme west of the district, the bird is 

 scarce, though a wooded country and gravelly soil would seem 

 to be favourable conditions. 



77. *CUCKOO (Cuculus canorus). 



A common summer visitor. In July, 1881, a Cuckoo laid 

 her egg in a Spotted Flycatcher's nest, built in the cleft of a 

 pear-tree, in an orchard near the town. The young Cuckoo 

 was hatched, and partly reared by the Flycatchers, but unfor- 

 tunately was taken from the nest before fully fledged. (A 

 similar instance of a Cuckoo's egg having been deposited in a 

 Flycatcher's nest, came under my notice at Fundenhall in the 

 same year.) 



78. HOOPOE (Upupa epops). 



One killed at Harleston in April, 1859 (Stevenson's Birds 

 of Norfolk}. 



79. ROLLER (Coracias garrulus). 



Mr. Stevenson notes the occurrence of a Roller at Earsham. 



80. ^KINGFISHER (Alcedo ispida). 



These birds suffered much from the high floods and severe 

 frosts of the years 1878 1881, during which period several 

 were found dead. In 1878 we found a Kingfisher's nest, con- 

 taining seven eggs, in a Sand Martin's burrow in a gravel pit 

 close to the town, and at some distance from the river. Pro- 

 bably not more than three or four pairs now breed in the 

 vicinity, but in autumn a considerable immigration takes place, 

 and the bird is then frequently seen, and much too frequently 

 shot. 



81. * GREEN WOODPECKER (Gecinus viridis). 

 The most common of our three Woodpeckers 



82. *GREAT SPOTTED WOODPECKER (Dendrocopus major). 



Less common than the last-mentioned species, but not rare 

 in the Gawdy Hall Woods, the Starston Plantations, and other 

 suitable localities. 



