372 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



of Kingfishers, and on occasion Wild Mallard and Duck, tempted 

 thither by a flock of my friend the gardener's tamed pinioned 

 wild-fowl. On this date that bit of fen is gay with ragged 

 robin, " cotton-plants," forget-me-nots, and the dwarf yellow 

 rattle. The wood covers some six acres, and trends, in the 

 westward, down to the marshes. It is lively with birds ; during 

 the week four Hawfinches — probably nesting in some obscure 

 corner — have been flying a round; numbers of Goldfinches and 

 some Bullfinches, with two or three pairs of Bed-backed Shrikes, 

 haunt the place ; to these may be added seven or eight Crossbills 

 in green and red, a half-dozen Jays, and plenty of Nightjars. 

 This evening as I stood revelling in the spot, I heard the soothing 

 croon of Turtle-Doves, their soft mournful cooing creating at 

 length almost a feeling of monotony. A number of alders share 

 with the firs this delightful area, whilst a bordering of oaks 

 shuts in the far side. I seldom pass that way but I spend a 

 short pleasant while in their shadows. This unnamed place is 

 now a little paradise: and I hope the energetic keeper has gone 

 to the war. 



June 30t1i. — I am of opinion that the Swallows and House- 

 Martins have been more plentiful than usual hereabouts ; Sand- 

 Martins much scarcer, and Swifts and Nightjars well up to the 

 average. Two pairs of Bearded Tits appear to have lived this 

 summer in a Waveney reed-marsh. 



Three Herons, over from Holland for a short spell, flew in 

 on July 13th, going direct west at 8 a.m. Lowering as they came 

 in, they were set upon and mobbed by a number of Gulls. 



On the night of July 13th I sat eel-fishing beside a reed-bed 

 on the Waveney ; at 10 p.m., in the dusk, an Owl flitted across 

 the reeds, disturbing a Sedge-Warbler, that darted after the 

 bird of prey with much noisiness and a great show of anger, 

 pursuing it out of sight and hearing. 



Spoonbills. — When sailing my punt on Breydon I put up 

 a Spoonbill that had been standing belly-deep in water at the 

 edge of the Ship Drain. The bird's breast was richly saffron- 

 coloured, and the crest of fairly good dimensions. Three were 

 here during the second week of July. 



There had been for several days a Scoter frequenting Breydon, 

 where it was to be seen diving, and coming again to the surface 



