ORNITHOLOGICAL BECOBD FROM NORFOLK. 



115 



one at Potter Heigham, on the 5th of October, is the only one I 

 have heard of being shot for some time." It appears that up to 

 twenty years ago Spotted Crakes were pretty numerous, but 

 since September and October, 1881, when there was a migration, 

 they have been steadily decreasing in East Norfolk (cf, Mr. Bird's 

 notes, Zool. 1890, p. 457). I am glad to see from Mr. Archi- 

 bald's communication that it is not the same in Lakeland, and 

 have no doubt the presence of so many visitors on our principal 

 Broads helps to drive them away. 



The annexed table is an approximate estimate of the decrease 

 in the Norfolk Broads district of six species in the last forty 

 years, drawn up from fairly reliable sources. The Short-eared 

 Owl is included in the table, but what little evidence there is 

 points to its never having been anything more than a scarce 

 breeder among the Broads. 





1858. 



1868. 



1878. 



1888. 



1898. 



Ruff 



(Machetes pugnax). 



About 

 14 nests 



About 

 5 nests 



About 

 2 nests 



About 

 1 nest 



nests 



Bearded Tit 



150 „ ? 



100 „ 



80 „ 



45 „ 



33 ., 



(Panurus biarmicus). 













Garganey Teal 

 (Querquedula circia). 



20 „ 



15 „ 



12 „ 



7 „ 



2 „ 



Montagu's Harrier 

 (Circus cineraceus) . 



6 „ 



5 „ 



3 „ 



2 „ 



1 „ 



Marsh Harrier 



5 „ 



3 „ 



2 „ 



„ 



„ 



(Circus ceruginosus). 













Short-Eared Owl 

 (Asio accipitrinus). 



5 „ 



4 „ 



3 „ 



2 „ 



2 „ 



With the extinction of the Ruff, Norfolk loses fifteen breeding 

 species, or, if the Greylag Goose, Savi's Warbler, and Little 

 Bittern are reckoned, eighteen. At the same time it may well 

 be that Savi's Warbler, a bird which leaves its shelter very 

 reluctantly, flying only a short distance, and, dipping down again, 

 to be immediately hidden, is still an annual visitant in very small 

 numbers. 



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