

THE BIRDS OF GREAT YARMOUTH. 533 



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(Edemia nigra. Common Scoter. — C. Flocks every winter 

 off the coast ; sometimes by hundreds. Very restless during 

 snowy weather, with east winds. In ordinary weather will feed 

 and drift towards the shore, occasionally flying back to some 

 favourite feeding ground. Often seen in the Ham (a kind of bay), 

 Gorleston. During December, 1899, millions of Mactra stultorum 

 were washed ashore, mostly living. This mollusc is found an 

 inch or two below the surface of the sand. On this species, no 

 doubt, the Scoter delights to feed. Local, " Mussel-duck," 

 " Black Duck." 



O.fusca. Velvet-Scoter. — R. R. " Occasionally shot in hard 

 winters; several in the severe one of 1829-30" (Paget). The 

 same description applies to-day. Mr. E. T. Booth met with 

 flocks of Velvet Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks off Yarmouth, 

 February, 1882. One entangled in a herring-net off Caister, 

 Oct. 21st, 1893. 



Mergus merganser. Goosander. — N. C. Messrs. Paget record 

 it as occasionally met with here in sharp weather. A punt-gunner 

 killed five, all females, Jan. 11th, 1871. Several of both sexes, 

 January, 188 L (B. of S.). The crop of one killed a few years ago 

 contained several small Roach. Fine adult male in the market, 

 Dec. 20th, 1899, and a female equally as good near Potter 

 Heigham, Dec. 21st, 1899. Local, " Saw-bill." 



M. serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. — R. R. " Not un- 

 common in hard winters ; several in 1829-30 " (Paget). It is a 

 very uncertain visitor; in some years several, in others none. 

 Several, January, 1894. 



M. albellus. Smew. — N. U. Occasionally met with in severe 

 winters in varying numbers. A good old male now and again 

 shot in January. On Jan. 15th, 1881, a curiously mottled male, 

 which had more than half assumed the white garb, was obtained 

 on Breydon. Several in January, 1891, and in January, 1894. 

 Local, " White Nun," " Weasel-duck." 



[M. cucullatus. Hooded Merganser. — A. Messrs. Paget state 

 that one of these birds was killed in the winter of 1829, " which 

 Mr. Selby has"; but subsequent enquiries have failed to sub- 

 stantiate the record, or trace the specimen.] 



Columba palumbus. Wood-Pigeon. — C. Huge flocks occa- 

 sionally pass over from the north-east at the autumnal migratory 



