NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 415 



Another special feature of this month was the great influx of 

 Shore Larks on the beach and denes at Yarmouth. They were 

 first seen, Mr. G. Smith informed me, on the 15th, and from 

 that date to the 29th about fifty were shot, of which thirty 

 passed through his hands ; and of these he beheved only six 

 were females. Two were shot at Cley, out of a considerable 

 flock, on the 30th. Twenty years ago I gave a long price for a 

 Yarmouth specimen, as one of our Norfolk rarities. 



The wild-fowl killed on Breydon this month consisted only of 

 a few Pintail Ducks, Wigeon, Mallard, and Teal, a few Grey 

 Geese, of what species not known; a large flock was observed, 

 flying, at Northrepps on the 25th, and a lot of seven Sheldrakes 

 on the 23rd. The fearful gale, however, from the east on the 

 27th, drove hundreds of gulls, large and small, in shore, which 

 sought Breydon waters for shelter. 



November, mild, wet, and stormy, and with but slight frosts, 

 afforded little sport to the gunners. The only winter fowl at 

 Yarmouth were represented by a few immature Scaups, Golden- 

 eyes, Eed-breasted Mergansers, and Goosanders, on Breydon, 

 and considerable flocks of Scoters out at sea. Several young 

 Sclavonian Grebes were also met with, and about sixteen 

 Whoopers appeared, but passed on in safety. 



The paucity of Tringce, both on the beach, and Breydon 

 muds, this month, was remarkable ; but Snipe were at times 

 very plentiful in the marshes, with hundreds of Lapwings. 



A few Shore Larks still frequented the Denes, and five more 

 were shot in the first week, and two on the 25th, and one 

 caught alive, which came to my aviary. A pair were seen at 

 Hunstanton on the 2nd (when Skylarks and Hooded Crows were 

 arriving off the sea all day), and three were shot at Blakeney 

 the same week. Large flocks of Wood Pigeons were observed 

 coming inland at Northrepps on the 5th, and Lapwings, in 

 successive flocks, high up, on the 23rd. 



Of other occurrences may be noted a fully adult male 

 Shoveller, in brilliant plumage, shot near Yarmouth on the 3rd. 

 A Norfolk Plover, from Swaffham, as late as the 8th of this 

 month, which was very fat, and weighed 1 lb. 6 oz. A Fork- 

 tailed Petrel was said to have been for sale in Yarmouth market. 

 A Crossbill, shot from a flock at Caister, near Norwich, and a 

 beautiful adult male Merlin at Caister, by Yarmouth. Two or 



