mr. a. patterson’s natural history notes from Yarmouth. 67 
September 2nd. A Corncrake caugbt in a stable in the heart of 
the town. This species is notorious for turning up in the oddest 
of situations at and after harvest-time. 
I never saw so many “ Daddy Long-legs ” as swarmed the grassy 
banks of Breydon in September. They congregated in millions, 
hanging on the grass-tufts in festoons, giving them the appearance 
of over ripe reed-tufts. Up to the 13th they seemed to be merry. 
On the 17th hosts had perished in the water, beaten down by wind 
and rain [vide May 1 8th J. 
September 8th. A Sandwich Tern very reluctantly flew ofT 
a floating log in the centre of Breydon. 
A Grey Phalarope shot same date. 
September 9th. Four Teal in the Market : subsequently they 
wero singularly scarce. 
On the same date a ? Merlin was brought me, which had been 
taken on a fishing-smack. 
September 14tli. Carcinus mcenas (the Common Shore-crab) 
has a peculiar habit of hiding in large clusters in the holes 
perforating the “ ronds ” on Breydon, more particularly those to 
which ingress is made through a small aperture, and there remain 
while the tide is out. They, seemingly, are on the best of terms 
until the flood-tide tempts them to prowl and fight for possession, 
or place, and food or prestige. On cutting a rond-edge straight 
with a spade, I crashed through two or three such colonies. 
September 19th. A 10-inch Solo, with only one half of the 
head on the upper surface showing the normal colour, brought 
in to-day. 
September 19th. A large Crab-claw given me with the lower 
or fixed portion of the structure armed with an extra point [ vide 
July 10 th]. 
Purrant, the poulterer, had a Great Snipe for sale on September 
20th. Becoming rarer yearly, the sand-dunes, its favourite resort, 
being so encroached on and spoiled by traffic. In the 70’s it was 
not unusual. 
September 30th. The wind set in extremely rough, with rain, 
last evening, giving promise of an influx of migratorial Waders. 
Went up Breydon to-day to see what had turned up : the place 
8 warmed with Golden and Grey Plovers, Binged Plovers, and 
Dunlins. Saw a few Turnstones, Greenshanks, and Whimbrel. 
f 2 
