124 
with the beginning of the frost, and the few that remained 
probably died of cold or starvation.” 
Skylarks were, at that time, so plentiful in the “Fen,” that 
from twenty to thirty dozen were taken daily in “hingles.” He 
saw some wild Geese when shooting at Didlington, hut heard of 
none about Blakeney at that time, and hut few Ducks, except at 
night. In the south-western part of the county, on the river at 
Buckenham, and in the vicinity of the adjacent meres, there was 
excellent Duck shooting whilst the frost lasted ; hut from the num- 
ber bred yearly on the Merton and "Wretham Estates, including Teal, 
Shovellers, Gad walls, and even Pochards, these may not have been 
largely increased by foreign arrivals. Again, from the north and 
west of the county, Mr. Anthony Hamond wrote on the 19th of 
December, that at Westacre “ springs ” he had had good sport with 
wildfowl, including Mallard, Gad wall. Shovellers, Widgeon, and 
Teal, and he understood there were large numbers in his district. 
One man, about the 10th or 12th of December, shot twenty-three 
couple of Snipe at Hunstanton. 
IMr. Hamond also heard of several Waxwings having been 
seen in his neighbourhood, but I have not been able to ascertain 
that any were shot. 
From inland localities on the east side of the county I have 
notes from Mr. F. Norgate of Sparham, and Mr. Purdy of Aylsham, 
who seem to agree, that although the birds generally suffered much 
from the severity of the weather, there were but few deaths from 
actual starvation. Mr. FTorgate believes that, owing to the num- 
ber of hedge-shooters at the time, most of the birds found dead 
had been previouslj'’ wounded. A few Green Woodpeckers and 
Robins Avere picked up dead in his neighbourhood, no doubt 
victims of cold and privation. Kingfishers, as stated in my last 
year’s “ Notes,” suffered so severely in the November floods, that 
scarcely any Avere left to suffer from the frost. 
At the height of the November flood in the Wensum Vallej’’, 
INIr. Norgate found the fences, rough grass, and drifted rubbish 
near the streams alive Avith Water Rats, Field Azoles, and ShreAvs ; 
and Sparham Heath SAvarmed Avith mice, as our City Avharfs and 
Avarehouses did Avith rats. AVildfowl Avere abundant in his neigh- 
bourhood during the frost, and AVaterhens Avere all over the place. 
