566 PROFESSOR NEWTON ON THE GREAT FLOOD OF 1852-3 
Brent Goose, the mate of which had been killed two days before 
by Mr. hTeweome — together with large flocks of Common and 
Black-headed Gulls, and a flock of Gulls of which we could not 
determine the species. During these two days the weather was 
very severe for the season, and very stormy. 
A period of six weeks passed before we again visited the Flood ; 
but during that time the influence it exerted by attracting birds was 
manifest in all the neighbourhood, and Wild Ducks and Teal were 
often seen, even so far off as Elveden and its vicinity. By the 
month of May the water had very much decreased in extent ; and, 
there being then scarcely any place over which a boat could be rowed, 
the gunners were almost entirely kept to the ditches. At this time 
there was, however, more water left in Hockwold Fen than in any 
other part of the district. On the 5th of May, I there saw, beside 
some of the ordinary summer migrants, Whinchats and the like, 
that had now returned, three Redshanks, one of which was a cock, 
to judge by its song and actions characteristic of the breeding 
season, a bird that we took for a Wood-Sandpiper, a pair of Bar- 
tailed Godwits, of which one was killed, a pair of what we 
supposed to be Black-tailed Godwits, a pair of Shelddrakes, a Hock 
of five Mallards, a flock of two hundred Black-headed Gulls, of 
which we found a nest with an egg in it, and a flock of eight 
Arctic Terns, one of which was shot. The next day (6th May) 
among other birds we saw three Redshanks, and found a nest 
containing a single egg,* a pair of apparently Wood-Sandpipers, a 
pair of Dunlins, and a pair of Godwits, of which species we could 
not be certain, five Mallards as before — the Ducks were doubtless 
on their nests not very far off, a pair of Teal, and a flock of about 
one hundred Black-headed Gulls. A few Skylarks were also seen, 
for the first time by me, the condition of the ground having now 
become suitable to them. 
About the 4th of May, Mr. Newcome had shot a Turnstone, and 
about the 9th he killed an adult male Eared Grebe in extremely 
line plumage, both on Hockwold Fen, and a short time after some 
Common Terns. On the 15th of the same month a nest of the 
Black-headed Gull with two eggs was taken in Feltwell Fen. 
On the 21st of May my brother and I were again with 
* On or about this day another nest with three eggs was found, we were 
told, in Methwold Fen. 
