362 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



appearances of a varying number of Crossbills, in a small fir-wood 

 with which I am familiar ; the rather more, I think, than usual 

 number of Swallows ; the low disproportionate numbers of young 

 birds to their elders (I refer more particularly to certain Gulls) 

 that returned to Breydon flats after the nuptial season,* and the 

 ill-luck of those persons who put hens upon seats of eggs — to 

 this I shall refer later on. Complaints have been made about 

 the number of Wood-Pigeons ; this year's augmented increase 

 may be due, in a measure, to the absence of the many keepers 

 and under-keepers called up by the military authorities, a 

 process that may account for my easily observing a Sparrow- 

 hawk in a locality that is ordinarily most strictly "preserved." 

 Jays, too, would to an extent be benefited by the absence of their 

 natural and hereditary enemies who shoulder fowling-pieces ; 

 whilst undoubtedly the game-birds, from the self- same causes, 

 are notoriously less in numbers. As for Eabbits — I have seen 

 fewer on my diurnal perambulations in quarters noted for them : 

 maybe the presence of such numbers of soldiery has taught them 

 to confine their gambols and browsing to the darker hours; 

 mayhap, too, the same arrangement that roped in the keepers 

 arrested the poachers, who are not insensible to the delights of 

 camping in wild Nature's haunts (!). 



It has been somewhat curious to note the effects of loud 

 explosions on the birds. In some instances the most timid of 

 aves have got quite to ignore them, whereas others have been 

 ousted by these loud reports, and the unrest of much military 

 intrusion. The Breydon Gulls no longer worry about the 

 passing of aeroplanes ; and I think, in a way, look for something 

 to turn up from the boom of under-sea explosions. 



The vegetation on and around Breydon has struck me as 

 somewhat showing a process of changing. Bank rich grasses 

 have afforded an abundant " haysel," and apparently smothered 

 many other botanical species. Sow-thistles have been scarce on 

 the "walls " where in some years they grow luxuriantly. The 

 still hardening flats have, in places, produced a wider area of 

 rank saline grasses, akin to those on the lessening " ronds," or 

 saltings; and the Salicomia herbacea has been remarkably 



* On this point the Breydon watcher disagrees with me ; in July he 

 thought their numbers greater than usual. 



