872 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



10th. A large number of Pied Wagtails appeared at Yarmouth 

 about the latter date ; and early in the month a Water Kail was 

 caught alive on board a smack, just off the coast. During the 

 first week, also, the puzzling occurrence of French Partridges, 

 seen to come in from the sea with a strong easterly wind, and, 

 as usual, in an exhausted state on arrival, was observed on the 

 beach at Yarmouth, and I have notes of a single bird, seen to fly 

 in from the sea, at Lowestoft in March, and, in the same month, 

 a small covey of this species arrived on the sands at Cromer, in 

 like manner, and crept into any holes they could find for shelter. 

 Being birds of rapid but not sustained powers of flight, as is well 

 known to sportsmen, it is not easy to conjecture, if continental 

 immigrants, from whence they come. We have no record what- 

 ever of this Partridge being found in the Eastern Counties 

 till eggs were imported at the close of the last century, and as 

 when Sir Thomas Browne wrote just two hundred years ago it 

 was not seen in Norfolk, I still incline to the theory advanced in 

 the 'Birds of Norfolk' that these apparent visitants are but 

 residents after all, seized with a restless migratory impulse in 

 spring, and daunted by the vast expanse of water, as they pass 

 out to sea, swerve round again towards the land, and alight in 

 the exhausted state in which they are usually found. Some of 

 our immigrants, also, may cross the Wash, from the Lincolnshire 

 coast, or arrive from still more northern counties. 



A Hobby was observed at Northrepps on the 16th of May, 

 and of spring migrants amongst the Waders on Breydon "muds" 

 the Whimbrel was seen on the 3rd, Turnstones on the 10th, and 

 both Common and Green Sandpipers on the 13th ; and on the 

 10th and 17th a Greenshank and some Bar-tailed Godwits, all 

 these putting in an appearance about their accustomed time, as 

 the 12th of May is known as "Godwit-day " to the shore-gunners. 

 Somewhat later. Grey Plovers and Pigmy Curlew were also seen 

 at Yarmouth in summer dress ; and three Avocets were said to 

 have been seen, and one Spoonbill shot, the Bird Protection Act 

 notwithstanding. A flock of Black Terns were observed on the 

 22nd, hovering over the river between Brandon and Lakenheath ; 

 and on the 28th a large flock of Common Curlew were seen 

 passing at Northrepps. 



On the 29th Mr. J. H. Gurney, Jun., found the larder of a 

 pair of Eed-backed Shrikes, at Northrepps, their prey spiked, as 



