390 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



entrance of a burrow, down which the terrified animal promptly 

 disappeared. I find it is a usual thing for these powerful young 

 fowls to perambulate the marsh and banks in search of such 

 prey; and not infrequently do they capture and devour variously 

 sized Field Voles. 



August 21st. — Went up Breydon on the top of the flood-tide. 

 Everywhere, except the "Lumps" (the highest of the flats), was 

 covered. Among the rough "rond-grass" were flocks of 

 Einged Plovers and Dunlins. The adult Kinged Plovers in 

 some instances were magnificent birds, and a few Dunlins still 

 retained the black nuptial vest. A number of very tame young 

 Plovers had the "collar" of light grey, and a bare patch of 

 white where it had not yet met. Several Turnstones, old and 

 young, had joined the other waders, as had some half dozen 

 Curlew-Sandpipers; one or two of the latter were on change, a 

 light brick colour still distinguishing them. A number of 

 Piedshanks piped here and there, but were not so numerous, the 

 Watcher assured me, as they were at the end of June, " when 

 they came to Breydon by hundreds" — a rather inflated figure, 

 undoubtedly. Several Greenshanks flew around, unhappy till 

 tide-fall, when their favourite creeks ran low. As the tide 

 fell, the Curlews came from their siesta on the marshes, know- 

 ing by instinct when the tide had turned. As the flats bared, 

 several young Lesser Terns came to them, and were well fed 

 by their parents with young Herrings (local, "Whitebait"). 

 The old birds clicked when returning with a fish to one 

 particular young one, the latter answering with a shrill 

 clattering note. The fish was snatched from the old birds' 

 bill and promptly swallowed. Many Black-headed Gulls 

 flocked to the Zostera directly the water drew off, and 

 began their search for small Herrings entangled among the 

 fronds. 



On this same date a number of Starlings this sultry after- 

 noon flew around like so many Swallows, about fifty yards 

 above head, capturing insects that appeared to be swarming at 

 that elevation. From the fact that odd winged Ants alighted on 

 my coat, I judged this to be the species so eagerly captured by 

 the birds. It was curious to see how, with stiffened, well-spread 

 flight feathers, the Starlings glided around and to and fro, their 



