AUTHOR'S NOTE xv 



Perhaps I ought to apologise for the rather crude sketches 

 illustrating this volume. I am a self-taught amateur artist ; 

 and it was only at the urgent solicitation of two or three 

 of my sincerest friends, and in accordance with the wishes 

 of my publishers, that I consented to " try my hand." 



One word more. I should like to say that but for my 

 systematic entering of Nature records and incidents daily, or, 

 I should rather say, promptly and regularly, my three East 

 Coast books would never have been written. I began to make 

 " notes " as soon as their value and interest dawned upon me 

 when I was but a youth, in 1878 a practice I have ever 

 since continued. I have also pasted in my notebooks all 

 correspondence on Natural History subjects as I received it ; 

 and the "notes" at the end of this volume will show how 

 useful this habit has been to me ; further, these volumes will 

 prove how much there is to be seen and noted even in 

 a very circumscribed area by a man of limited education, 

 means, and leisure. That naturalist is badly situated indeed 

 who cannot accomplish more or at least as much as I have 



done. 



A. H. P. 



IBIS HOUSE, 



GREAT YARMOUTH 



