430 
LIST OP NORFOLK BIRDS. 
those which were formerly the most typical. The following species 
which formerly nested in Norfolk have entirely ceased to do so, 
viz., the Spoonbill, Cormorant, Peregrine Falcon, Kite, Hen Harrier, 
Common Buzzard, Kaven, Bustard, Avocet, Black-tailed Godwit, 
Grey Lag Goose, and Guillemot ; whilst the Marsh and Montagu’s 
Harriers, Hobby, Short-eared Owl, Oystercatcher, and Euff, are all 
but extinct as breeders ; the Bittern and Black Tern, under 
exceptional circumstances, and at rare intervals, probably, still in 
solitary instances, stay to nest. The Common and Lesser Terns, 
Bing Dotterell, Lapwings, and Eedshanks are decreasing in 
numbers ; but we have reason to believe that the Great-crested 
Grebe, Stone-curlew, and perhaps the Sheldrake, after having been 
reduced to a very low ebb, have of late years, rather increased in 
numbers than otherwise. We might perhaps add to these the 
Snipe, which, since the passing of the Bird Acts, nests with us in 
somewhat increased numbers ; but this certainly does not apply to 
the autumn and winter migrations of this bird. The same may be 
said with regard to the AVoodcock, and certainly in a marked 
degree of all the AVild Ducks which breed in Norfolk. It is 
worthy of remark that of the ten species of Ducks commonly 
known to breed in the British Isles, eight nest regularly in this 
county. 
There is one bird now rapidly becoming scarce with us, owing 
to constant persecution, for which we would especially plead, we 
refer to the Barn Owl, than which the farmer and game-preserver 
does not possess a greater friend, and yet there is scarcely a game- 
keeper’s gibbet on which it is not found, and very many are 
annually brought to the Norwich bird-stuffers. Mr. Frank Norgate 
counted twenty-six good-sized rats in the nest of a single Barn 
Owl, which were quite fresh, and as the weather was very hot at 
the time, he is convinced they must all have been killed the 
previous night : let those who know the destruction committed 
by rats when they have young ones, which is almost all the 
year round, try to realise the service performed by this pair of 
birds, and then judge of the wisdom of allowing them to be 
destroyed. Both the Long-eared and Brown Owls are scarcely less 
serviceable, and would increase rapidly if not so often killed when 
met with. 
