322 
fifteen to five-and-twenty couples in a day were, I understand on 
good authority, killed in favourable localities, and this not only in 
the “ Broad district,” but in the salt marshes on the coast. These 
birds, according to some accounts, literally poured in upon us, just 
in advance of the sudden change to frost and snow, which com- 
menced on the 6th and lasted till about the 11th or 12th. From 
that time, as was the case last year under very similar circum- 
stances, both Snipe and fowl have been scarce, the weather remain- 
ing open, whilst these early flights have passed on to the south, to 
return only in March on their way northwards in spring. Of the 
common Lapwing, large flocks were seen at North repps on the 1st 
of November, going west; and on the 4th large numbers were 
observed passing W.N.W., and from their cries it would seem that 
their flight continued also during the night of the 4th, or at least 
some part of it. About the 15th, immense flocks of Lapwings and 
Golden Plovers were observed in the same neighbourhood, at 
Beeston Eegis, and up to the close of the year the numbers of both 
Golden and Gray Plovers reported on the western side of the 
county, at Lynn, was very unusual. Woodcocks were plentiful 
towards the end of October. On the 28th, some ten or twelve couples 
were exhibited for sale in our fishmarket. Early in the same 
month wild-fowl were reported as unusually plentiful at Salthouse ; 
and on the 9th wild Swans were seen off Blakeney, and about a 
week later others were observed out at sea, off Cley harbour. On 
the 9th a flock of over two hundred wild Geese flew over North- 
repps, in a N.W. direction, flying high and making much noise ; 
and about the same time I learn that fowl in unusual numbers 
were heard passing over Breydon, near Yarmouth, but the nights 
were too dark for the gunners to do anything with them. Inland, 
and within a mile or two of Norwich, wild Swans were seen on 
the wing, and a great many fowl frequented the low meadows both 
morning and evening. 
Abundance of Shorteared Owls. The autumn and early 
winter of 1876, have been remarkable for the number of Shcrteared 
or Woodcock Owls, as they are commonly known to sportsmen, 
from occurring usually at the same time with Scolopax rustical a — 
that have been met with, not only on the coast, but very generally 
distributed inland. Between the 20th and 31st of October some 
