378 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Wrens (Troglodytes parvulus) appeared to be most plentifully 

 distributed, late in January, in the well-wooded neighbourhood 

 east of St. Olaves. 



January 31st. — Saw a Slavonian Grebe (Podicipes auritus) 

 in the market on this date ; and a number of Ducks, including 

 Pochards and Wigeon, with plenty of Moorhens and Coots. 



Mr. F. C. Cook, of Lowestoft, sent me word that on January 

 21st an Otter, weighing 12 lb., had been shot at Carlton, near 

 that town. How this large animal still manages to avoid 

 extermination in the Broadland districts can only be accounted 

 for by its marvellous cunning and extreme secretiveness of 

 habit. 



February 10th. — Mus rattus. Two women in a back street 

 were doubtfully peering into a screw of paper, which a small boy 

 was very complacently yet cautiously holding in his extended 

 hands. On going up to see, I found his parcel contained two 

 Rats that he was about to take to the Town Hall, for the penny 

 apiece reward offered for the animals. The scare of two or three 

 years ago that prompted the suppressive measures still provides 

 a " Rat-bin " at the Sanitary Inspector's office ; and any Rat 

 found or taken by any possible means is purchased and thrown 

 in, for ultimate cremation at the destructor. One was a half- 

 grown Black Rat {Mus rattus), the other a well-grown example 

 of the Alexandrine variety, Mus r. alexandrinus. I immediately 

 secured both by offering a more tempting reward, and popped 

 them into my pocket. The larger example was of a greyish 

 colour, with brownish black hairs freely sprinkled along the 

 back and on the rump ; the breast, throat, and under parts 

 being yellowish white ; ears large and naked ; soles of the feet 

 naked and yellowish. The length of the body was six inches ; 

 the tail measuring eight inches. 



February 1th. — The Jackdaws had come back to the Parish 

 Church steeple, and by their actions several would seem to have 

 paired. It was odd to see the birds excitedly wheeling round 

 and round the spire, one and another doubling in its flight, 

 dropping with Pigeon-like movement, then suddenly halting and 

 quivering, as if throwing water from its plumage. The birds' 

 presence in the town has become so familiar that no one seems 

 to heed them alighting and chattering upon the chimney-pots. 





