126 



THE ZOOLOGIST. 



them its luminosity disappeared, and the same was doubtless the 

 case with the one at Haddiscoe, of which no more has been 

 heard. Soon after this I was informed by Lord Lindley that he 

 had an ash-stump in his grounds displaying a superficies of 

 about eight inches of luminosity. That there is some connec- 

 tion between luminous trees and luminous Owls is the general 

 opinion here, and is highly probable. The fact that it was the 

 Owl's breast which emitted the chief glow would be thus accounted 

 for, as that part would come most in contact with the decaying 

 wood of a hollow tree. 



22nd. — A very high wind, which began in the south-west, and 

 at 4 p.m. had mounted to a gale (force, 4-5), and which in Scot- 

 land rose to a hurricane (force, 11 at Wick), did some damage to 

 timber. An arm came off an elm which contained a Tawny 

 Owl's nest and a rotten egg, while among other trees which 

 suffered was a tall silver-fir at Stratton Strawless, on which a 

 large flock of Books and a few Jackdaws had taken refuge from 

 the force of the wind. These were all whipped to the ground 

 with the falling fir-tree, and no fewer than sixty-two dead ones, 

 as I am informed by the owner, were found by his keepers lying 

 on the ground amongst its branches next morning. Another 

 curious thing which came under the cognizance of my friend 

 Mr. Bird was that during the gale a tree in falling knocked off 

 the head of a Wood-Pigeon. It appears to have brought Swans 

 to Breydon, as Mr. B. Dye informs me of three Bewick's Swans 

 being shot. 



March. 



12th. — By the 12th Kestrels were paired, and Mr. Lowne was 

 told of five Wood-Larks being seen on Yarmouth Denes. 



23rd. — Books and Thrushes have begun to nest. This is the 

 first warm day since the snow, and Mr. Bird reports Bittern 

 booming, Snipe drumming, and Frogs croaking, on the authority 

 of the marshman. 



31st. — N.W. strong. The first Spoonbill to visit Breydon 

 Broad came to-day, and stayed five days (Jary), and it is the first 

 our Society's watcher has ever registered in March, the next 

 earliest date being April 8th, 1898. This year has also given us 

 the latest occurrence of the Spoonbill, viz. on Nov. 21st.* 



* See p. 135. 



