191 



A NOEFOLK RAMBLE. 



By T. E. Gunn. 



On Monday, tlie 7tli of August last, I started, in company with, my 

 father, about 9 a.m., for a day's ramble in the vicinity of Hethersett. 

 We passed on our way through the villages of Eaton and Cringleford, where 

 we noticed the Martin, Hirundo urhica, somewhat numerous, busily engaged 

 in following its aerial pursuits over the meadow land near the old bridge — 

 individuals now and then stayed to rest themselves on the telegraph wires, 

 that skirted one side of the road, darting off again to resume their 

 evolutions. After a short pause, sometimes perhaps as many as forty or 

 fifty individuals would occupy the wires at the same time, forming a row of 

 a hundred yards or more, which appeared quite an interesting sight. 

 Passing through the toll gate at Cringleford, we directed our course along a 

 bye-road, and as we strolled along we were much gratified with the magnifi- 

 cent scenery and the melodious chorus of voices that fell upon the ear. Both 

 sides of the road for about two miles were bordered with furze bushes, and 

 the common brake, intermingled with wild flowers and shrubs in great 

 profusion, over which sported a numberless multitude of the insect world, 

 the whole appearing a very beautiful and interesting sight to the beholder. 

 Amongst the various species of diurni,! noticed SatyrusJEgeria, S. Megcem, 

 K Janira, S. Titlwnus,Ghortohius pampMliis, Lyccena Alexis, and PolyG7nma- 

 tus ])hl(Bas, to be very abundant. Still walking on I espied a pale cream 

 coloured individual of the robin, Sylvia ruhecula, hopping and picking near 

 the foot of an old tree, a few yards in front of us, it however glided through 

 the hedge and disappeared on our nearer approach ; we did not meet with 

 anything else of particular note until we arrived at our friend's residence, 

 which is pleasantly situated on the edge of a wood ; here we refreshed our- 

 selves for awhile and commenced our ramble through the woods, we how- 

 ever parted company each pursuing a separate course. I passed along a 

 narrow foot-path leading tlirough the centre of the woods, each side of which 

 was planted with a row of young fir trees ; on their branches I observed several 

 individuals of the Cole-tit, Parus ater, busily engaged in following their 

 industrious pursuits, winding and twisting themselves around the boughs, 

 and hopping from twig to twig, examining the crevices in search of insects 

 and seeds, which principally constitute their food, uttering at intervals of a 

 few seconds their pleasant and well known notes, which seemed to resound 



