NOTES FROM NORFOLK. 333 



Goosanders, three Goldeneyes, one Pintail, four Shovellers, 

 about forty Pochards, about two hundred Tufted Ducks (a species 

 which is increasing), a hundred Teal, and, as near as we could 

 estimate, a thousand Wigeon, and at least fifteen hundred 

 Mallard (including a white one), besides numbers of Coots and 

 a large flock of Blackheaded Gulls, which added to the animation 

 of the scene. As soon as our party appeared this mass of fowl 

 began to stir, flying up and down the lake, and very loath to take 

 their departure. The Smews were old males, and their conspicuous 

 whiteness made them recognizable at a greater distance than any 

 other fowl. They did not avoid the company of strange ducks, 

 and we could observe two of them meet as if in friendly greeting ; 

 but they were decidedly distrustful of man, and we never got 

 nearer to them than 300 yards. In flight they stretch their necks 

 out, and go sharp and straight, and not slow either. They prefer 

 the deeper portion of the lake, and very seldom come to the 

 southern end where the house is. There had been five of them 

 the week before, but we could only see three ; the last day on 

 which they were seen on the lake was March 21st. The 

 Goosanders were in small parties, and about six out of the 

 seventeen were males : they were also rather shy, with the 

 exception of one old drake, which sat on the opposite bank 

 preening himself, and as the light fell on his buff waistcoat it 

 gave it the appearance of richest salmon-colour. 



Mr. Napier has never known a Merganser on Holkam Lake, 

 nor a Shelduck, nor a Wild Swan, which is singular, as the sea 

 is only a mile away. The Wigeon monopolize the south end, 

 and walk out on to the park in quite a herd to eat the grass near 

 the lake, which is very short from their constant nibbling. On a 

 previous visit nearly a thousand of them were on the grass, but 

 on this occasion they were nearly all on the water. Our presence 

 soon put them up ; and Mr. Hamond, who happened to be out at 

 sea in a boat, saw a countless multitude of Wigeon, &c, flying 

 out to sea from the lake. 



The Heronry at the edge of the Holkam Lake, though strictly 

 preserved by Lord Leicester, is reduced to about seven nests. 

 Mr. Southwell and I counted fourteen there last year, and the 

 year before there were said to be twenty-seven. Its establish- 

 ment cannot date much further back than 1872, when there were 

 four nests. 



