SIR THOMAS BROWNE AS A NATURALIST. t l 
Kingfisher. Would that “that handsome coulered bird” 
abounded now as it did in Browne’s days. 
Goatsucker or Dor-hawk. 
Rook. 
Crow. 
Hooded Crow. 
Ground-lark. 
Wood-lark. 
Tit-lark. 
Starling. 
Goldfinch, a kind of An thus, a fools-coat. 
The following birds are those which seemed to be less common, or 
about which there might be some uncertainty as to Sir T. Browne’s 
naming. 
I I aly ret us or Fen Eagle. This is now generally called the 
White-tailed Eagle ( Haluetus albicilla). A species of almost annual 
occurrence in autumn and winter, though always immature. 
Osprey. This is not asserted as being common in Browne’s 
time. 
Kite. Not in great numbers then around Norwich, owing, 
Browne thought, to the “ plenty of Ravens about the city.” “ Now 
only an accidental visitant ” (Stevenson). 
Grey Buzzard. Probably the common Buzzard. “No small 
number.” Now “ visits us annually in small numbers both in 
spring and autumn, but rarely in mature plumage ” (Stevenson). 
Bald Buzzard. This is one of the names given by Pennant, as 
applied to the Osprey. Browne most probably refers to the Marsh 
Harrier or Moor Buzzard, which was very common in his time. 
Crane. “ Often seen here in hard winters especially about the 
Champian and fieldie part.” He mentions that at a dinner given 
by the Duke of Norfolk to the Mayor, Cranes were served. 
Stevenson says, “ Whether the Crane ever bred* in Norfolk must 
remain an open question.” Also, that “now it can be reckoned 
only as a rare and accidental visitant to this county.” 
Elk. “ A name formerly used, but perhaps now obsolete, for 
the ordinary Wild or Whooper-Swan ” (Newton). In hard 
winters “ seen in no small numbers,” and with his usual thorough- 
ness he calls attention to the “strange recurvation of the wind-pipe 
* See paper iu present number of the ‘ Transactions,’ p. 93. 
