384 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



and a second batch must have been laid, as a couple of young 

 birds (I observed no more) flew much later than ordinarily. I 

 have noticed this species both on the Bure (Norfolk) and 

 Waveney (Suffolk) marshes for nearly forty years, but do not 

 remember observing young ones on the wing so early as 

 April 25th. It is a weakness of youth to jump to conclusions, 

 although an objectionable practice ; I think Mr. Chasen has 

 made a mistake in the species, and rather ambiguously refers to 

 his record as "premature." I am never surprised at not seeing 

 the bulk of our local Eedshanks before March 20th ; I noticed 

 my earliest arrivals on March 7th this year (1914). They do 

 not nest directly they come. A few odd birds appear to remain 

 in this country all the winter, moving about locally when 

 compelled by the exigencies of the weather. I have observed 

 dead birds on the late Mr. Durrant's game stall in December, 

 January, and February. June 26th is the almost stereotyped 

 date for their deserting the marshes (those of the Waveney, in 

 particular) and resorting to the vicinity of Breydon. The late 

 Mr. W. S. Everett, a noted Suffolk sportsman of the old school, 

 always insisted that " on this date they left the Oulton Marshes 

 for Breydon." 



When taking a walk by the side of the Haddiscoe Canal I 

 observed that the nemoralis Snails haunted the bottoms of the 

 dank grasses and rushes on the slopes of the bank. Many 

 broken shells lay around, and I notice that in very dry weather 

 the Thrushes and Blackbirds constantly flit across the marsh, 

 more especially towards '•mist-rising" at eventide, when 

 molluscs come out to feed, fetching and carrying these Snails 

 home to their youngsters. 



Carrion-Croics. — I am glad that a pair of Carrion-Crows 

 still appear to nest in a moist bottomed wood in a village 

 lane three miles away, where I discovered a nest in 1905. 

 Had I then not been almost as keen-eyed as the sable 

 head of the establishment I had not noticed him, for he 

 simply "slid" off the nest noiselessly and cunningly, and, 

 spiriting round the tree trunk, vanished. On June 1st it 

 was probably the same old fellow who winnowed his way into 

 my neighbourhood and caught my attention by his measured 

 scouting, and day after day went through the self-same tactics, 



