158 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



(his gun carrying about a pound of shot), and with those killed 

 outright and the wounded, which he and his dog caught before 

 they could make their escape, he secured no fewer than thirty 

 couple of wildfowl, consisting principally of Wigeon and Teal." 

 This same old gunner on one occasion, after considerable 

 manoeuvring to get within range, killed six Swans out of a flock 

 of eight at one shot. 



Mention is also made of a bird-preserver named Harvey (vide 

 note on Pratincole), who " previous to the alteration in the game- 

 laws" sent up to the London markets an average of about fifty 

 fowl per week through the season — viz. October to April — the 

 number varying with the severity of the weather ; thus, in the 

 winter of 1829, on one market-day, he had brought to him four 

 hundred wildfowl of various species, five hundred Snipes, and 

 one hundred and fifty Golden Plovers, " all of which he imme- 

 diately carried up to London and disposed of." 



Notwithstanding the changes which have of late years taken 

 place in Breydon — such as the great silting up of the flats (over 

 some acres of which now flourish field-like patches of Salicornia 

 herbacea, the jointed glass- wort), and the lessening of certain 

 species of fish, the Grey Mullet (Mugil capito), for instance, 

 which now no longer ascends in shoals, while the Osprey and 

 Cormorant are more seldom seen — most interesting glimpses into 

 bird-life may be enjoyed. In spring large flocks of Wigeon may 

 be observed pulling at the succulent stems of the Potamogeton 

 pectinatus (local, " Wigeon-grass "), the Curlew boring deep to 

 find the Nereid worms, and smaller species of Waders busily 

 hunting Gammaridce, Mysis vulgaris, and other crustaceans. 

 Herons are seldom absent, for the Shore-Crabs (Carcinus mcenas) 

 and the Eels and Flounders have attractions for them. In 

 autumn various migrants, the juniors coming first, are often 

 abundant, and various Ducks and Geese and Swans may be 

 expected in wintry weather. And what adds much to the 

 pleasure of a jaunt on Breydon is the possibility that you may 

 meet with rarce aves at any moment, and your delight will 

 certainly not be lessened if your binoculars are handy. I have 

 thus fallen in with the Siberian Pectoral Sandpiper, several 

 Spoonbills, the Iceland Gull, and many another. 



During the close season Breydon is comparatively quiet, the 



