NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 873 



usual, on the thorns of a fence ; and this within a few yards of the 

 spot where he had noticed the same occurrence, in the previous 

 summer, — a tall fence, on the road near the Ci-omer Station. 



A stay at Cromer, from the 12th of May to the 9th of June, 

 afforded daily observation of bird-life in that neighbourhood ; 

 and renewing acquaintance with that well-known and genial old 

 fisherman, Billy Mayes, I learnt from him, when at sea in his 

 crab-boat, many interesting facts, both as to sea-fowl and sea-fish. 



On one occasion I saw a few adult Greater Black-backed Gulls, 

 passing rapidly, with an evident purpose in view ; and I believe, 

 from many former observations, that with an instinctive know- 

 ledge of the ebb and flow of the tide, these Gulls come for miles 

 to exposed feeding-grounds near Yarmouth, and work back again, 

 late in the day, to roost on the extensive sand-hills about 

 Blakeney and Cley. 



Mayes tells me that about the month of October, the fishermen 

 see Gulls by hundreds, day after day, flying in the direction of 

 Blakeney, late in the afternoon, where he has seen them congre- 

 gated in great numbers ; but, as at that season they never see 

 them going in the other direction in the morning, he supposes 

 they must pass along the coast earlier than even the fishermen 

 are about at that time of the year. Early in May he had seen 

 Guillemots out at sea, off the Cromer lighthouse, passing north- 

 wards, no doubt to their breeding station at Flamborough, from 

 whence, in the breeding season, as the fishermen assert, they 

 pass regularly for food down to Yarmouth Eoads. At different 

 times when fishing out at sea, he has seen various species of 

 birds coming over the sea, and making direct for land, more or 

 less exhausted ; and amongst them he mentioned Starlings, 

 Rooks, Sparrows (Tree Sparrows, probably). Chaffinches, Swal- 

 lows, and Martins, and the tiny Gold-crested Wren. Books he 

 had seen settle on the waves, as if to refresh themselves, as is 

 frequently the case with the Swallows, dropping their feet into 

 the water, and raising their wings at the same time. He has 

 seen French Partridges making for land, but never saw or heard 

 of an English Partridge in flight over the water. 



One morning a small flock of the Common Gull, and on 

 another, of Black-headed Gulls, all birds of the previous year, 

 were hovering over and settling on the waves, within gun-shot of 

 the beach, attracted, no doubt, by the fish-offal thrown overboard 



