162 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Warblers, and Blackcaps, which were almost as few in number 

 as in 1912. Can it be that they are drowned in crossing sea 

 when on migration, or is it more probable that they perish in 

 the destructive "roccoli,"* which find such favour in Italy? 



The usual migration of Rooks and Crows passed Cromer, 

 flying E.S.E., a direction which, if maintained, would bring 

 them to land near The Hague. Fieldfares also and Redwings 

 were seen leaving, but no Buzzards. There was a marked 

 coastal movement of Wagtails. 



The first Spoonbills were a fine pair seen on Breydon Broad 

 by Mr. B. B. Riviere on May 1st ; wind S.E. to S.W., force 2. 

 Many other birds were on the mud-flats, including five Sheld- 

 Ducks, Wigeon, Shovellers, and a White-fronted Goose (G. Jary), 

 all of them travellers going north or east. From that date until 

 August 16th there were twenty -six days out of one hundred and 

 six on which the watcher was able to register the presence of 

 Spoonbills. According to his carefully kept notes, the longest 

 period during which there was not a Spoonbill on the Broad was 

 from May 29th to June 11th. On June 25th Mr. C. R. Gurney 

 and I had a distinct view of three, and on July 6th there were 

 four, this being the largest number seen by the watcher on any 

 one day. In recording the visits of Spoonbills Mr. Jary has 

 always been requested to carefully observe the direction of the 

 wind. Accordingly, in looking back at his notes for many years, 

 we learn that forty-four Spoonbills have come to Breydon Broad 

 with a N.E. wind, and seven with a N.W. ; twenty more have 

 come with a W. wind, eight with a S.W., and six with a S. wind. 

 These observations were all made in April, May, or June, and a 

 good deal may be gathered from them. Evidently in the spring 

 it is a N.E. wind which generally brings Spoonbills; but this 

 is curious, because in April and May their desire on leaving 

 southern Europe would be to migrate north, or perhaps north - 



* These " roccoli," or devices for catching birds, especially Thrushes, 

 are numerous throughout the north of Italy ; they consist of small groves of 

 low trees, trimmed and trained for the most advantageous disposal of thin 

 one-iuch mesh nets, while inside these seductive arbours is heard the piping 

 of different sorts of decoy-birds. The nets are kept going during the migra- 

 tory season, and everything down to a Long-tailed Titmouse is killed if 

 captured by the peasants. There is, however, no reason for supposing the 

 death of more victims in 1912 and 1913 than usual. 



