ORNITHOLOGICAL REPORT FOR NORFOLK. 129 



few days later saw about three hundred in one flock ; and, as has 

 been already said, they were equally abundant on the north-east 

 coast of Holland, according to Mr. Bonhote. It has often struck 

 me, when looking over some Norfolk shore-shooter's bag of God- 

 wits, Dunlins, Turnstones, Redshanks, and Knots, how enormous 

 was the preponderance of birds of the year in the first week of 

 September, the percentage of adults, as proved by their plumage, 

 being often only about two or perhaps three. It was the case 

 this year with the Bar-tailed Godwits. Now, as these young 

 waders have never been south before, it is clear that they have 

 not the aid of memory to travel by, but the sight of coast-lines, 

 coupled with an instinct that they must go south, probably does 

 avail them. Continuing our walk, two lots of Teal got up, and a 

 fine adult Richardson's Skua chasing Terns gave us an unusual 

 pleasure. Although adult Skuas are rare, young ones are always 

 to be seen at the beginning of September. The next day the wind 

 had gone down (N.N.W., 1 ; one thunder-squall), and Mr. E. G. 

 Arnold writes that he visited the Morston Marshes, but saw little 

 except Curlew. A gunner on Breydon was more fortunate, for 

 an adult Sabine's Gull in full summer plumage was obtained on 

 the Broad, and taken to Mr. E. C. Saunders, who made the 

 following note while it was still warm : — (i Eyes a very dark brown, 

 eyelids crimson, bill black but bright yellow at the tip, the black 

 colour of the head coming well down the neck, where it was 

 so black as to form a collar." Although young Sabine's Gulls 

 have several times occurred, Norfolk has never before had an 

 adult. 



4th. — A young Shag,f taken at Cley, and the following day 

 onet was caught alive on Cromer beach, which, being put on a 

 pond, fed well for a time, and then died. On examining its 

 anatomy I could find no air-cells such as the Gannet possesses, 

 or any indication of internal cells. On the 11th another! was 

 taken alive by a boy at the foot of Overstrand cliff, where it had 

 probably been left by the receding tide. 



7th.— N.W., 1. Mr. E. C. Arnold notes a migration of Tit- 

 larks, also a Chiffchaff and two Sedge-Warblers near the shore, 

 and at least one Blue-headed Wagtail, and a Pectoral Sandpiper, 

 which he saw at intervals up to the 17th. Yesterday a Hoopoe 

 was seen on the cliff by Mr. Hoare, and other birds are reported, 



