on Birds noticed during a short visit to Suffolk. 167


a family of the pleasing little Golden-crested Wrens (Regulus

cristaius') busily searching for food in some evergreens by the

moat in front of the Rector)''. Marsh Tits {Par us pa lus iris') were

frequently to be found scattered about, most commonly I think in

pairs, and one day I had an opportunity of examining one which

had been shot from the Island. Besides the above-mentioned

species I saw the Coal and Blue Tits {Parus ater) and (P. coeruleus')

and I remember finding a beautiful little nest of the Long-tailed

or Bottle Tit ( Acredula caudata), containing eggs, in a hedge

bordering 011 the tenuis court where I was staying.


On August 8th I found a late nest of the Greenfinch

(,Ligurinus clitoris') with four young, only recently hatched.

Personally I did not come across the Hawfinch {Coccothraustes

vulgaris ), but I heard of two specimens taken near St. Margaret’s.

The Chaffinch (. Fringilla ccelebs ) known locally as the “ Spink ”

from its call, and the Linnet ( Acanthis cannabina ) were plentiful

everywhere; but I can only remember seeing Bullfinches

{Pyrrhula europced) in one locality, namely, the road from St.

Margaret’s to St. Peter’s.


I am afraid the Goldfinch {Carduelis elegans) is not common

in the neighbourhood of St. Margarets, as, though I kept an eye

open for them, I only saw a party of five all the time I was there.


The perseverance of the House Sparrow {Passer domesticus)

is marvellous ; for example, the owner of the house I was staying

in had the Sparrows’ nests round the house (of which there were

not a few) destroyed, because of the damage these birds do, and

within a few days some of them began again constructing great

untidy nests in the rose bushes all up the house.


House Martins {Chelidon urbica ) may be seen nesting on

nearly every house. South Elmliam Hall is particularly favoured

by them, nests being built on it on every available place, in

extraordinary numbers. I only saw Sand Martins {Cotile riparia )

on two occasions, the first being on August 10th, along the River

Waveuey below Beccles ; and the second on August 19th, when

I was surprised to see these birds nesting close to the beach at

Lowestoft, which is much frequented by trippers, houses being

close by.


Pied Wagtails {Motacilla lugubris ) had evidently had a good



