SOME BIRD NOTES 287 



Nov. i^th. There seems to have been a very pronounced 

 movement of green woodpeckers ; they have 

 been plentiful of late. They are usually more 

 in evidence here in November than at any 

 other period of the year. 



i6///. A male bearded tit was shot at St. Olaves, 

 where, with a companion, evidently a female, 

 it was unexpectedly met with in a clump of 

 reeds. This looks like a return visit to an old- 

 time haunt of the species. 



I8//&. Wild birds frequently live to a great age in 

 captivity. A friend assures me that a linnet 

 of his acquaintance has been caged eighteen 

 years. 



1906 



Jan. 2*jth. A flock of snow-buntings feeding on the rain- 

 soaked seeds of the Chenopodium album grow- 

 ing on top the walls near my houseboat. 



Feb. Jth. Some stacks of hay have been overhauled on 

 the Southtown marshes, much to the delight 

 of bramblings, which have visited the spot in 

 some numbers for the sake of the numerous 

 seeds of weeds exposed to view. 



2$rd. Saw a concourse of hooded crows on the South 

 Beach. I found their centre of attraction was 

 the carcase of a dead terrier dog. The eyes had 

 been extracted, and the tongue the daintiest 

 portions ; and the fur was stripped off one side 

 as clean as feathers off a plucked chicken. 



Mar. $ist. A movement of water-rails has taken place. 

 One brought to me that had been picked up 

 exhausted out of the river ; another was re- 

 cently killed on the North Denes by striking 

 a telegraph wire. 



May \2th. Went for my usual " Twelfth of May " Breydon 

 tour, but did not meet with, or hear of, a 

 solitary godwit ! 



July gth. Yellow wagtails abundant on some ling-clad 

 hills high above the St. Olaves marshes. 

 Insects were extremely numerous, but not 

 more so perhaps than on the lowlands. It 

 occurred to me that this wagtail may be 

 locally changing its habitat, for it is by no 

 means so numerous as formerly on the 

 marshes around Yarmouth, 



