Spring Migrants on Breydon. The usual flocks of migratory 
waders appeared on the Breydon “muds” about the second week 
in May, and as an evidence that the “ Wild Birds’ Protection Act ” 
is practically a “ dead letter,” owing to the absurd alterations made 
in its penal clauses by the quasi friends of the “ little bird,” I may 
state that some of the most perfect specimens of knots, sanderlings, 
bar-tailed godwits, grey plovers, and turnstones, in full summer 
plumage, that have been killed in this county for some years, 
were shot >n Breydon, beyond the time allowed by the Act, and 
passed at once into private hands, to the no small annoyance of 
those collectors who, respecting the Act, notwithstanding its weak 
points, had not encouraged local gunners to break the law. 
Red-necked Phalarope (Phaluropus hyperboreus). This 
species, which for some years has been a stranger to our coast, 
occurred this summer in several instances. The Rev. E. W. Dowell 
informed me that one was shot in June on “ Snails Pit,” at 
Swalfham,and on the 4th of July, Mr. Frank Norgate received an 
adult female, in full summer plumage, which had been caught alive 
by a boy at Salthouse, but died the same evening. Another was 
shot in the same neighbourhood about a fortnight later, and one 
near Lynn in the month of September. This species has not, I 
believe, occurred hero since 1868. 
Baillons Crake (GV&c baillont). A very perfect specimen in 
my own collection, a female in full summer plumage, was picked up 
dead under the telegraph wires on the Lynn and Hunstanton line, 
on the 2nd of June, and would probably have nested in that 
neighbourhood. 
Early appearance of the Fieldfare. In my last year’s notes, 
I stated that a fieldfare had been killed by Major Irby, at Borland, 
on the 20th of September. This year a single fieldfare was flushed 
from a turnip field by Mr. Purdy, of Aylsham, on the 1st of Sep- 
tember, and two or three were seen by the same gentleman on 
the 8th. 
Late appearance of the Swift, Swallow, and House 
Martin. Owing, no doubt, to the extreme mildness of the autumn, 
even to the end of October, a swift was seen by myself and others 
flying round the steeple of Cromer church on the 14th of October, 
F 
