354 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Lapwing and Kedshank. I generally shoot a few young one 

 during the month of August, high tides driving them from the 

 Rands to the fen ditches. 



Reed Warbler. — The Reed Warbler is nothing near so 

 numerous in the district as of yore. When a youngster, I was 

 fond of trailing through the tall reeds to search for Reed Warbler's 

 nests, and had little difficulty in finding half a score. Now it 

 would take a lot of searching to find that quantity of nests, and 

 judging from the few birds one sees, this species has decreased 

 very much during the past ten years. 



Reed Bunting. — The Reed Bunting, like the Warbler, is on 

 the decrease. Several, however, still remain and breed by the 

 side of the deep ditches. Strange to say, though I have lived 

 with these Buntings during a period extending over twenty years, 

 I have only found two nests, one containing five young ones, the 

 other four eggs, which I added to my collection. 



Kingfisher. — Alas, for our gaudiest of British birds ! Are 

 we to retain it in Norfolk, or will this handsome bird, like the 

 Great Auk, become extinct ? It is rare at the present day to see 

 a Kingfisher. I still know one place where a couple annually 

 breed, and fortunate for such the owner of that particular nesting- 

 ground worships their presence as a Hindoo would a god. Woe 

 be to the miscreant who would dare to disturb that pair of sacred 

 fishers. If any bird requires protection in Norfolk, it is the 

 Kingfisher. In the year 1883 Kingfishers were very numerous 

 on the fens, and I could see them daily. Occasionally I noticed 

 as many as half a dozen together. Severe winters and the gun 

 have almost exterminated this beautiful species as far as Norfolk 

 is concerned. 



Skylark. — The Skylark breeds profusely all over the marshes, 

 and during nesting-time eggs can be found anywhere and every- 

 where. During the past twenty years I have found several nests 

 of the Skylark containing young Cuckoos, the latter being very 

 common at present in the gardens and thickets on the verge of 

 the fens. 



Meadow Pipit. — Of late years the Meadow Pipit seems to be 

 on the decrease, though several still breed with us. I have seen 

 a few nests myself this season, and allowed the same to remain 

 undisturbed. 



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