THE BIRDS OF GREAT YARMOUTH. 161 



11 Also all Pike under three Qurters [quarters ?] sixpence each, and Eels 

 at three shillings per stone. 



11 Hannah Forder, her mark x . 

 " Thomas Forder. his mark x ." 



Witness | John Sandcroffcj Jnr# 



The taking of eggs was at one time carried on to a great 

 extent, and tended undoubtedly to the diminution of certain 

 species. "All the marshes," wrote the Messrs. Paget in 1834, 

 11 but more especially about Oby, Thurne, and Acle, are found 

 considerably profitable, by the numbers of Plovers' eggs which 

 may be collected in them, and of which there is carried on a most 

 extensive sale during the months of March, April, and May. The 

 same person (Isaac Harvey) before mentioned sends an average 

 of between six and seven hundred eggs to the London and other 

 markets every week during the season." The " eggs " covered a 

 variety of species, e.g. Snipe, Lapwings', Redshanks', Water- 

 Rails', Moor-hens', and Coots'. At the present time a few small 

 chip trays of Plovers' eggs appear in Yarmouth market every 

 spring, but, as with the wildfowl, there is but a limited local sale. 



There are many features connected with the bird-life of the 

 neighbourhood which are worthy of note, among them the 

 extreme uncertainty of migratory movements in large bodies. In 

 some years certain rare species have appeared in unusual num- 

 bers, as in the case of the Shore Lark, Lapland Bunting, Little 

 Auk, Buzzards, Skuas, and others ; on the other hand, years 

 may elapse without such records. These fluctuations undoubtedly 

 depend upon, or are affected by, atmospheric conditions ; a sharp 

 winter, with continuous occurrences of heavy gales from the 

 north, north-east, or south-east, will drive in many species, more 

 particularly during the periods of migration. In October the 

 local ornithologist hails with pleasure a south-easterly breeze, 

 with "dirty weather" in its wake. The day previous certain 

 species will be perhaps altogether absent ; at night, as the wind 

 freshens or the drizzling rain makes the darkness dismal, he 

 may hear their clamorous call-notes resounding overhead ; the 

 bewildered birds, unaccustomed to the glare of our gas-lamps, 

 keep wheeling around, as if attracted by them, incessantly calling 

 in order to keep together their respective flocks, until the day 

 dawns, when they drop upon the Breydon mud-flats to feed and 



