NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 317 



May 3rd, Northrepps. Spotted Flycatcher, May 7th, Northrepps; 

 16th, Norwich. Swift, May 2nd, Yarmouth; 14th, Norwich ; 10th, 

 Cromer and Keswick. Corn Crake, May 13th, Northrepps. Goat- 

 sucker, May 14th, Northrepps. 



Cormorant. — On May 14th seven of these birds, in company, 

 were observed flying towards the sea at Yarmouth. 



Spoonbill.— Five were seen at 4 a.m. on Breydon, on the 19th, 

 four of which were sleeping with their heads thrown back and 

 buried in their feathers, whilst one apparently stood sentinel, and 

 about twenty large Gulls were in company with them. These 

 passed on, unmolested, but two were recorded as killed at Orford, 

 in Suffolk, on the 21st, which, possibly, were part of the same flock. 



Black Tern. — Several about Breydon on the 14th. 



June and July. 



Magpie. — About the 19th of June four young Magpies were 

 seen in one of the coverts at Northrepps. 



Mute Swan. — A pair of tame Swans at Keswick, near Norwich 

 this year brought off (May 27th) the prolific number of twelve 

 cygnets, of which one was afterwards found dead. A few years 

 back I knew of a pair on Surlingham Broad which, for several 

 years in succession, reared ten and eleven cygnets, and once or 

 twice the hen bird laid twelve eggs. 



Spoonbill. — A single bird on Breydon, June 23rd, escaped. 



Herons nesting. — I was informed this year of a small heronry 

 commenced in a plantation at Strumpshaw, near Brundall, on 

 the Yare. 



Hooded Crow. — About the 21st of July a Hooded Crow was 

 seen near the cliff at Overstrand. The departure of the main body 

 of these birds was witnessed at Northrepps on several occasions 

 in the spring. On the 9th of March many were seen, with some 

 Rooks, flying seawards, and very high in the air ; and again, on the 

 16th and 17th, flocks of Grey Crows, Rooks, and Jackdaws were 

 observed departing in the same manner; though a few of the former 

 still remained, near the coast, up to the 3rd of April. 



August. 



Norfolk Plover attacked by a Hen. — On the 2nd of this 

 month, Mr. Callow, of Northrepps, heard a screaming noise in his 

 stack-yard, which he found to proceed from a bird of this species 



