HUFF 
about in the ditches round tlic churchyard at Potter Hcigham and tlie adjoining marshes, where stagnant 
pools were to he found. Under the name of “ Jack-o’-Lanterns,” these extraordinary visions were reported to 
he still common in many parts of the low-lying flats of Kent and Sussex, where reeds and rushes have flourished 
for many years. The decomposition of the roots and stalks of the water-plants is supposed to account for the 
fantastic vapour that flitters about and often puzzles the natives of marshy districts. 
Many years ago I remember the gamekeepers and lookers over the marshes in Pevensey Level, to which our 
shooting extended when living at Catsfield in the east of Sussex, relating wonderful stoides about these 
mysterious vapours. “ The Jack-o’-Lanterns,” as they were called in this district, were reported to be 
frequently seen about some of the slades and shallow pools in soft parts of the marshes in the Level, and also 
at two or three of the pells * near tlie river and adjoining the shingle-banks. 
A few of these flickering lights were also stated to have been recognized hovering around the moist spots 
and the pools near the hanks of a nice little trout-stream that bordered a large stretch of land covered with 
furze hushes, known as the “ horthy ” field, and affording cover for immense numbers of rabbits. This wild and 
unreclaimed extent of useless ground has now undergone a great transformation. I also ascertained that a 
bright, luminous, flickering light Avas exhibited by fresh-caught Avhiting, when cut up for feeding our captive 
Gannets and Guillemots : this avo learned at a small village in Canty Bay, Avhile providing for the young birds 
brought from the Bass Bock and reared in the boat-sheds; Avhen our charges Avere visited after dark, their 
stock of provisions attracted attention as soon as the door of the shed Avas opened. The rays of the glittering- 
shine that casts such a lustre around the herrings used as bait for the traps that protect the nests and eggs 
AA e AAisli to presciwo from the depredations of any predacious vermin are A'ei’A" attractAe. 
On the 20th of June four very handsome glossy eggs were taken off Kush Hills, and these are the clutch 
depicted in the Plate. Ihe eggs of another nest AA^ere remoA'ed a week later from the same piece of ground, as 
there A\as hut little doubt they Avould haA’’e been taken on such an exposed spot. These I placed in the nest of 
a Partridge well concealed in long grass, on a marsh in a quiet part tliat was seldom visited, in hopes the young 
birds might he hatched. The old bird performed her duties Avell, sitting closely, and the downy juveniles AA ould 
soon haA^e been out, when a donkey, turned out to pick up his living on the marsh, trampled on the nest and 
broke most of tlie eggs. The Keeve belonging to the last-mentioned nest Avas shot and sent to he preserved, 
as I imagined it was too late in the season to expect her to lay again. 
There is an entry in my notes for 1871, Avhile again at Potter Ileigham and Avatching Ilickling Broad, that 
the first arrival occurred on the 11th of April. On the 17th, the weather cold and stonny, I Avas out on the 
Broad in the punt, and while carefully inspecting the most likely parts of Swimeoats, in order to ascertain if 
any Buffs Avere about, a flock of nearly one hundred came rapidly in siglit, making straight toAvards the hill on 
which they alighted after sweeping round two or three times. Buffs and Beeves were in about equal numbers, 
and sculling the punt up under the shelter of the hank, I had a capital chance of examining them through the 
glasses, as they Avere not fifty yards from Avhere our punt Avas brought up. There Avere Buffs of all colours, 
hut none liad above half assumed the full plumage ; and as I only required a bird in perfect plumage, I thoii<dit 
that if left unmolested they would remain on these hills round the Broad and in due course improve in appearance. 
This I discovered to he a mistaken idea, as the large flocks only stopped a feAv days while on their AA^ay to more 
northern breeding-stations, and then took their departure. The feiv that remained in the district Avith the 
Beeves were not seen till later on in the season, and came singly or in very small parties of two or three 
On the 19th again found the Buffs, on Bush Hills, and their numbers were augmented by about a score that 
were passing over, which, being attracted by tlie SAvarm on the hill, darted down and settled close at hand. 
T here Avas one Buff with a white head and a black frill that looked very peculiar, and this bird I intended to 
shoot; hut unfortunately he got into the midst of the others, and I was not able to distinguish him again. 
ihe Sussex name for the small pools to which a little salt water penetrates. 
