THE BIBDS OF GREAT YARMOUTH. 413 



" hovering " in different directions across'the marshlands. Ad- 

 ditions in autumn. Local, " Wind-hoverer." 



Pandion haliaetus. Osprey. — K. R. " One or two shot nearly 

 every year on Breydon or the Broads" (Paget). Was un- 

 doubtedly more common in the earlier half of the century, before 

 the shoals of Grey Mullet (Mugil capito) forsook Breydon, owing 

 to the great silting up of that basin. Two on Filby Broad, 

 Sept. 20th, 1898. were observed fishing. 



Phalacrocorax carbo. Cormorant.— N. C. According to Sir 

 Thomas Browne this species nested in trees at Reedham, " from 

 whence Charles the First was wont to be supplied " (Nor. N. S. 

 vol. iv. p. 417). Till within a year ago, "we had (at Herring- 

 fleet) always more or less Cormorants with us all the year round, 

 but more especially in winter " (' Rough Notes on Natural His- 

 tory,' by H. M. L.), in 1825 there were several nests there. It 

 occasionally follows the Herring shoals, and I have observed odd 

 birds on Breydon in spring. Six were seen there on May 25th, 

 1890, and seventeen on May 19th, 1892. 



P. graculus. Shag. — R. R. " Very rare," according to 

 Messrs. Paget. May be more frequent after the Herring shoals 

 than is observed. I procured one alive on March 28th, 1898, 

 from a fishing-smack, which became an interesting pet. It ate 

 2j lb. of fish per diem., vomiting the more indigestible bones. 

 Another, brought me alive on Nov. 11th, 1899. 



Sula bassana. Gannet.— C. "Not uncommon ; several were 

 shot in the roads after the severe gale of Oct. 31st, 1827 " 

 (Paget). Is now fairly common out at sea during the fishing 

 season. An adult specimen secured on Breydon, Sept. 24th, 

 1865. I have observed several washed ashore at different times, 

 three as recently as Dec. 8th, 1899 ; these were possibly drowned, 

 and thrown out of the Herring-nets. 



Ardea cinerea. Common Heron. — C. Does not appear to 

 have greatly diminished of late years. The Mautby heronry has 

 disappeared since 1874, but a new one exists at Reedham. I 

 have frequently seen upwards of twenty Herons at a time feeding 

 in company on Breydon flats, where they may be watched 

 catching Eels and Flounders. Local, " Hernsher." 



A. purpurea. Purple Heron.— A. " Has been killed three or 

 four times " (Paget). An example, " Breydon, 1850 or 1857 " 



