ee Se 
ea. 
THE ZOOLOGY OF NORFOLK 39 
such as Scolt Head, Blakeney Point and Cley marshes, where watchers 
are maintained by the Norfolk Naturalists’ Trust. ‘These sanctuaries 
are noted breeding places of the terns (five species in all are recorded), 
oyster catchers, ringed plovers, sheld duck and redshank. 
The stone curlew or Norfolk plover is at home in the Breckland, where 
the probable effect of afforestation, now being carried out on an extensive 
scale, will be to compel them to concentrate on a few favoured open 
spaces. 
The heron is a widely distributed resident in Broadland, and at one 
time there were many heronries in the county, but many of the older ones 
have disappeared, the largest and best known now in existence is at 
Reedham. 
More birds have been recorded for Norfolk than for any other British 
county, and it is impossible to give even an adequate summary here. 
The writer would refer those interested to the many good books dealing 
with Norfolk ornithology. 
REPTILES. 
The grass snake (T'repidonotus natrix) cannot be called common although 
it is widespread, often frequenting marshy spots where frogs abound. 
The viper (Vipera berus) shows little variation in this county ; it is locally 
abundant on heathlands and sandhills. The common lizard (Lacerta 
vivipara) is found on heaths and hedge banks, while the slow-worm 
(Anguis fragilis), less common than in some of the southern counties, is not 
infrequently found in grassy spots. 
AMPHIBIANS. 
Of the three species of British newts, the smooth newt (Molge vulgaris) 
is by far the most common ; the great crested (M. cristata) is not un- 
common in ponds, while the palmated newt (M. palmata) has seldom 
been identified. 
The common frog (Rana temporaria) and toad (Bufo, vulgaris) are 
ubiquitous, but the Natterjack or ‘ running toad ’ (B. calamita) is confined 
to sandy ground near the coast, and is of very local distribution. 
FISHES. 
Each autumn finds the East Anglian herring fishery in full swing and 
its importance is too well known to need comment. ‘The recent economic 
difficulties of the industry are referred to in a later chapter. The intensive 
research into the habits of the herring, carried out by the staff of the 
Fisheries Laboratory at Lowestoft, has had practical results, e.g. in the 
accurate forecast of yearly fluctuations in marketable fish, and the effect 
of plankton concentration on the movements of the herring. The mackerel 
fishery once carried on at Yarmouth has ceased to be practicable. Toa 
minor degree the catching of smelts and of longshore herring takes place 
mainly near Yarmouth. Large shoals of whiting appear inshore every 
autumn, preceded by dogfish and followed by codling ; this phenomenon 
is well known to the sea-angling fraternity. 
