THE BROADS. 33 



wall we found a winged Redshank, which formed the day's total bag, and, 

 rejoining the boat soon afterwards, we spent the next few hours lying across 

 the main channel in the hope of a stray shot, and listening to stories of Spoon- 

 bills, &c., shot by Booth and other well-known collectors. Not a bird came 

 within range, and though we had powerful glasses and scanned the muds in all 

 directions, the only winged creatures that we could see were a few Heron, a 

 fair sprinkling of Gulls (all Lesser Black-headed), one or two odd Curlew, and 

 a single Whimbrel which we might conceivably have stalked. After that first 

 flock of Dunlin, we never saw another small Wader throughout the day. The 

 boatman at length proposed working the channels, and, determined to give the 

 place a fair trial, we consented, and solemnly journeyed along each without 

 the slightest hope of a shot. Nothing upset our calculations ; not a bird was 

 to be found. To while away the time I took a few photographs, none of which 

 ever came out, and then, as there were obvious signs of an approaching deluge, 

 we set to and rowed hard for home. We did escape the rain, and it was about 

 the only thing we did do successfully on that ill-fated day. 



I doubt whether I shall ever visit Breydon again ; not that I consider it 

 a bad place, despite our experience. The fact is, that anyone living on the 

 spot, and able to go out as soon as birds have arrived, would no doubt have 

 excellent sport at times, but it is not worth going there at random on the 

 chance of finding birds. They evidently use it as a resting-place rather than 

 a haunt. 



On the following day we took the train to Potter Heigham with the idea 

 of searching for Bearded Tits on Hickling Broad, but again the Fates were 

 against us. Passing the Falgate, the inn well known as the headquarters of 

 the late Mr. E. T. Booth, we soon got down to the river, and here at one time 

 we seemed likely to spend the day. The place swarmed with boats and boat- 

 houses, but of a boatman we could see no signs. After an irritating wait of 

 half an hour, we unearthed one of the boat proprietors, and by his persuasion 

 a boatman, so called, was extracted from a neighbouring inn. 



" Did he know anything about the birds of the neighbourhood ? " we 

 enquired rather anxiously, after a hurried scrutiny of our would-be guide. 

 His knowledge was explained to be unimpeachable, and though this was more 

 than could be said for his appearance he reeked of beer for want of anyone 

 better we reluctantly engaged him and got into the boat. We suggested that 

 one of us should scull while he steered, but this he would not hear of, and as 

 it did not seem politic to offend him, after fervently thanking our stars that we 

 could swim, we sat grimly down and waited developments. They were not 

 long in coming. We had to get through the stone arches of the bridge which 



D 



