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NATURAL HISTOEY NOTES FROM SUFFOLK.* 

 By G. T. Rope. 



May (continued). 



10th. Saw both Shellducks several times during the day. 

 Norfolk Plovers screeching to-night. 



11th. One Shellduck (or drake probably) about the river. A 

 Nightingale was this morning skulking about a thick clump of 

 whin bushes on the heath, near a farmhouse. Its manner led me 

 to suppose it had a nest close at hand. I am not sure whether 

 this bird has ever been known to build among the roots of whin 

 or furze. 



12th. Saw a few Common Terns this morning. Some Lesser 

 Terns have been frequenting this part of the river several days. 

 Though perhaps it was the long pointed wings, forked tail, and 

 general form of this elegant little bird which first suggested the 

 name of Sea Swallow, there is also, I think, a decidedly Swallow- 

 like tone about the voice. Saw three Whinchats drinking at a 

 pond near a farmhouse. 



13th. Noticed at Blaxhall two Blackcaps together, to all 

 appearance a pair, though both had chestnut crowns. 



14th. Saw both Shellducks to-day. When first noticed they 

 were on the Friston saltings, but after a time they rose, and came 

 close over me. While flying they kept uttering a soft, low, 

 descending whistle. One disappeared behind a clump of oaks, 

 mentioned above as growing close to the river ; the other (doubt- 

 less the drake), after taking a sweep round the trees, came back 

 and alighted on the saltings. I afterwards searched the spot 

 where the duck so mysteriously disappeared, and soon found a 

 rabbits' hole, the appearance of which plainly indicated a nest 

 within. The entrance was partly concealed by brambles ; about 

 the mouth of the hole were a few bits of white down, and, a little 

 way in, a single feather. I also fancied I could make out foot- 

 prints in the loose sand. Many pairs of these handsome birds 

 formerly nested annually in rabbits' holes about Iken Heath. 

 They used also to breed at Sudbourne, near the ferry, and at 

 Gedgrave ; but, like most birds in this country that have the 



* Concluded from p. 297. 



