NATURAL HISTORY NOTES FROM SUFFOLK. 293 



seen. When first noticed it was partly buried at the edge of a 

 cottage door-step, under which it had perhaps hybernated. A few 

 hours later it had crawled out on the grass some twelve inches 

 or so. 



18th. Wind west, very stormy. Helix nemoralis has been 

 all day half buried against the wall of the cottage, but at half- 

 past ten at night was crawling up the wall, and had reached a 

 distance of about twelve inches above the ground. Half an hour 

 later he was on his return journey, and within three inches of 

 the sod. 



19th. Heard the Wryneck for the first time. Saw some 

 small Warbler, either a Chiffchaff or a Willow Wren, chased and 

 bullied by a Sparrow. This morning a small hawk (I believe a 

 male Sparrowhawk) made several ineffectual stoops at some little 

 bird, which, after skilfully dodging its persecutor for some time, 

 came straight towards me, and took refuge in a cottage garden. 

 It proved to be a Blue Tit, and the bounding flight of the little 

 fellow seemed plainly to express exultation and self-congratulation 

 at having succeeded in baffling his enemy. 



20th. Saw the first Yellow Wagtail, a beautiful male and 

 very tame. Unlike some of our brighter-plumaged birds, this 

 species is of a tame and confiding disposition, allowing one to 

 observe its beauty, and the peculiar grace of movement common to 

 all our British Wagtails, without the aid of a glass. The 

 glowing yellow of the male, as he runs nimbly about the meadows 

 in pursuit of insects, gives one the impression of an animated 

 buttercup. Wagtails seem to have been particular favourites 

 with that most gifted of animal painters, Kosa Bonheur ; and in 

 some of her beautiful cattle pictures these little birds are seen, 

 running about among the drowsy beeves, in chase of their insect 

 tormentors. 



21st. First heard the Cuckoo. This, according to my notes, 

 seems to be about the average date of arrival for this bird. A 

 few days ago I met with a Grebe of some kind in the river, just 

 above Langham Bridge ; it was very tame, and allowed me to get 

 pretty close before it took wing. After flying a little way it again 

 pitched in the river. The seeking of safety in flight, rather than 

 by diving, struck me as an un-Grebe-like proceeding. In size it 

 seemed about intermediate between the Great Crested Grebe and 

 Dabchick, and it may perhaps have been a specimen of P, 



