294 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM EAST NORFOLK. 

 By J. H. Gurney, Jim., F.Z.S. 



The following notes on an expedition to Gunton Lakes on 

 June 13th will perhaps be of interest to naturalists. 



I cannot help thinking that the Heron is increasing in 

 numbers, and at Gunton there is a colony of thirty-eight nests 

 on an island, fairly secure from vermin, though Foxes and Otters 

 are said to go there, and one of the latter was recently poisoned 

 with two strychnined Bream. When Mr. Harting published his 

 list of British Heronries (Zool. 1872, p. 3264), which I find very 

 valuable for reference, Gunton heronry had been only recently 

 established, and was said to boast thirty-one nests. There are 

 now about thirty-eight on alders, and as the island is small they 

 can hardly increase beyond this number. But Mr. Southwell 

 informs me that a splendid heronry has sprung up at Mautby, 

 where there are something like one hundred nests ; and I hear 

 from Mr. Norgate of small heronries at Billingford and Bylaugh, 

 and from Mr. Newcome of six nests at Wilton, near Brandon. 

 The nest recorded at Hempstead (Zool. 1880, p. 366) was not 

 followed by any more, and the same year a pair or two nested at 

 Sheringham, but have now ceased to do so. 



Gunton Lake is a great home for Canada Geese ; at least 

 one hundred live there in an unpinioned state, roam about the 

 country, and are often shot. There are also a great many more 

 at Holkam Park, Blickling Park, and Melton Park, and it need 

 hardly be said that not the slightest value attaches to any Canada 

 Goose — however wild it may seem, and however unsoiled its 

 feathers— which may happen to be killed on the coast in this 

 part of England. We had an exciting chase in a punt after a 

 very young one, which we eventually captured and pinioned ; but 

 except a few which are pinioned in this way, none are disabled 

 from escaping. On the Heron's island I was sorry to see five or 

 six deserted nests, all containing eggs, amounting to about forty. 

 I suspect that the Foxes were accountable for this, for I know 

 from experience that a Canada Goose is not too large for them 

 to kill. 



There is only one pair of Great Crested Grebes at Gunton, 

 and the Kev. Henry Lubbock, the Rector of Gunton, informs me 



