366 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



had killed four Voles the previous day at the spot indicated. 

 We strolled over to it, finding two of the dead " mice " still left 

 there. It was a hot noonday, and the Voles, both gravid females, 

 were as warm as if alive, and already thickly spotted with fly- 

 blows. It is evident to me that the hawk must have had young 

 ones, as its deigning to collect dead animals seemed to warrant. 

 In confinement, of course, the bird will readily take anything 

 edible offered it, whether dead or alive. 



On Saturday, July 20th, a market gardener driving up to 

 market stopped to hand me a parcel. On opening it I found two 

 dead Weasels and three Water-Shrews (Crossopus fodiens), two 

 of them adults, the other a young one. These had been found 

 alive with the Weasels, and were together promptly killed. 

 Three or four other Shrews already dead had been discovered 

 when turning over a " cock" of rough marsh-hay. 



25th. — Local-bred Wheatears seen around Breydon walls and 

 marshes. 



Very few Terns visited Breydon this summer, fewer than 

 have been known for many years. As is well known, there are 

 large and thriving colonies nesting at Blakeney, Cley, and Wells, 

 at the northern extremity of the county. In fine warm summers 

 it would seem that herring- syle, their chief food, is plentiful and 

 easily procured in their own particular neighbourhood, whereas 

 in untoward seasons it is evident rough weather has a tendency 

 to cause the 3'oung herrings to swim deeply. Other things also 

 may be taken into account — tidal, and so forth. Then, it would 

 seem, the Terns (Little and Common) put in to Breydon. Last 

 year they swarmed here, and were quite a feature in late July 

 and during all August. Unfortunately in such seasons they in- 

 variably prolong their stay until the beginning of September, 

 when shooting commences, and when many become targets for 

 indiscriminate, cruelly-minded gunners. This season they un- 

 doubtedly performed their southerly movement later, and when 

 they moved steadily passed southward. Their scarcity here has 

 been much commented upon. 



I visited Easton Broad, in Suffolk, during August. It and a 

 smaller bit of water known as Covehithe Broad are somewhat 

 inaccessible, secluded lakes, making a long journey from Lowes- 

 toft necessary, although, had I been so minded in making a long 



