NOTES FROM THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF CROMER. 381 
Aylsham and Dereham is one of the fen districts in Norfolk where 
the Carrion Crow still breeds, and ere long Foxley Wood {to 
which, under Mr. Norgate’s guidance, we directed our footsteps, 
and which is their great stronghold) is to be preserved, and 
the days of these plunderers of Pheasants’ eggs will be num- 
bered in that locality. Mr. Norgate showed me six nests 
in Foxley Wood, and seven or eight in tall grey poplars in 
meadows at Holbecks. We did not get up to all of these nests, 
but took three clutches of three eggs each. I was surprised to 
see how very cup-shaped the nests were, and all thickly lined 
with sheep's wool, and occasionally horse’s felt and hare’s fur, 
the nest itself being generally made of oak twigs and branchlets 
in Foxley Wood, where there is nothing but oaks; and of poplar, 
alder, and ash in the meadows, with a little maple and whitethorn. 
Some years ago Mr. Norgate found a path in Foxley Wood strewn 
with Pheasants’ egg-shells, exactly as if boys had been running a 
paper chase and scattering shells instead of paper. These eggs, 
he believed, had been all sucked by Crows. 
The Magpie is almost as much to blame, and I am sorry to 
say we had to sacrifice one of a fine pair at Northrepps which had 
been with us all the winter. Notwithstanding this the survivor 
paired again and brought off young ones, and on June 26th I saw 
six at one time in our “ wall cover’ —an unprecedented occurrence. 
On May 11th, there were many Turnstones at Cley, near Cromer; 
in one flock twenty-seven, some of which were in perfect, plumage, 
others not so good; plenty of Whimbrel, true to their name of 
“May-bird” and mostly in pairs, and a pair of Shelducks ; but no 
red Godwits, though this is about the date when they pass up the 
coast of Norfolk on their spring passage. 
Nearly all our spring migrants arrived about the usual time. 
None were particularly early, but this year for the first time I did 
not remark the departure of the Hooded Crowsin March. A few 
Kestrels and a good many Ring Doves appeared at Cromer, and 
the latter did some harm to the newly-sown wheat. No sooner is 
it sprinkled on the fields than they find it out, and by far the 
most damage is done in the first day or two. Of all omnivorous 
birds commend me to the Wood Pigeon. The food of this bird 
in the early part of March consists of beechmast, acorns, leaves 
of leguminous plants, ivy-berries, and peas. I have arranged 
them somewhat in order of abundance as I have found them in a 
