429, THE ZOOLOGIST. 
Some hundreds of Dunlins and Ringed Plovers, with some 
Curlew-Sandpipers, on the mud-flats. Some Grey Plovers 
and a few score Knots. During the continuance of the waters 
upon the marshes, flocks of Grey Plovers, Lapwings, and Golden 
Plovers were frequenting the neighbourhood, the drowned worms 
probably being an attraction. 
I picked up a freshly-dead Redwing at the tide-mark on the 
beach on October 8rd, and on the 4th a dead migrant Skylark, 
with its wing clean cut off by contact with a telegraph wire on 
the North Denes. 
On the 8rd a Woodcock with an injured wing, hurt un- 
doubtedly by telegraph wires, was captured near the fish wharf. 
Two Ruddy Sheld-Ducks were shot on Breydon on October 
5th by two separate gunners, one of whom, not knowing its 
species, and mistaking it for an ordinary Sheld-Duck, plucked 
it, the head, neck and feet only being rescued at the instance of 
a gentleman who happened to see it. I saw the remains; the 
head was creamy, but the neck had assumed a decided shade of 
buff. The other fell to a collector, who had it preserved. 
Gulls, I think, are becoming more numerous. Three years 
ago I estimated the numbers ‘‘ resting ”’ on Breydon flats, after 
an early morning’s feeding at the herring grounds, at about 
seven thousand; on certain days lately I have estimated the 
number at nearly half as many again. Greater Black-backed 
Gulls of all ages appear to predominate; Black-headed Gulls 
came next, with Herring-Gulls, mostly immature, and then the 
Common Gull, in lesser numbers. No one troubles to choot 
them, save one old gunner of my acquaintance, who looks every 
year to make up a gross of victims, utilizing the feathers for 
sale purposes, whilst he dresses the wings and ‘‘ parts” of 
smaller Gulls, finding quite a clientéle among certain of the fair 
sex, who recommend his wares one to another. There will be a 
hue and ery directly by the fisher-folk, who seem unaware, or 
forget that the Greater Black-back is exempt from protection. 
It is a fine and interesting sight on a fine afternoon just 
before sunset to see the ruddy light falling upon acres of birds ; 
to hear them cackling their plans for the night’s procedure ; and 
to observe them mounting, battalion after battalion, in regular 
succession, and making for the open sea, whereon in fine nights 
