WINTER DAYS ON BREYDON 43 



dabchicks frequented the river there. Geese in flocks of 

 seventeen, twelve, thirteen, and ten respectively, " mostly a 

 darkish-grey sort" (probably bean geese, the most common 

 species here this winter), passed over ; and a large hawk, 

 which I have reason to believe was a buzzard, flew out of a 

 stackyard, with straws depending from its feet, and I have no 

 doubt a rat was mixed in amongst them. A large " cloud " 

 of wood-pigeons, containing some hundreds, passed over 

 from the direction of Yarmouth, where another acquaintance 

 of mine saw them a little earlier on the same date in all 

 probability the same flock. 



To-day I saw three birds feeding near Breydon, which I at 

 first believed to be meadow-pipits. On putting them to 

 flight, which they appeared reluctant to take, I noticed an 

 uncommon amount of white on the two outside feathers on 

 either side of the tail. It struck me at the time as being 

 rather unusual, but not being prepared to suspect anything 

 rarer, I paid no more heed to them, and let them alone. 



On taking up the current number of the Zoologist, I 

 happened to read an article on the water-pipit, 1 and on 

 further reference to Howard Saunders' Manual, I was 

 astonished to find how curiously my birds corresponded with 

 the description there given of the species. I went back to the 

 spot, but, as I was prepared to be, was disappointed at not 

 again meeting with these birds. On cautiously introducing 

 the matter and my suspicions to an old and observant 

 gunner, he, strangely enough, spoke of seeing three birds a 

 few hours previously at the harbour mouth, near the piles of 

 the breakwater, which he noticed " carried more 'an usual " 

 white on their tails. There the matter for the present must 

 rest, for were I to describe the species to any of those who 

 prowl around with guns, searching for "specimens," not a 

 meadow-pipit would escape the general massacre "rarities" 

 provoke. A new species had better remain unidentified ! 



" P. W. D. I.," writing to the Daily Express of January 5th, 

 1907, and commenting on the appearance of the wild swans 

 at Yarmouth, remarked : 



" I am informed that there were fifty of the birds, but 

 whether they were whoopers or the smaller Bewick's, word 



1 "The Water-Pipit (Anthus spipoletta} as a Visitor to England," by Michael 

 J. Nicoll, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U., Zoologist^ Dec , 1906, p. 463. 



