80 
SIB THOMAS BROWNE AS A NATURALIST. 
Pelican. Shot upon Horsey Fen, May 22nd, 1663. “About 
the same time I heard one of the King’s Pelicans was lost at 
St. James’s, perhaps this might be the same.” This needs no 
comment. See note on this species as a former inhabitant of 
Norfolk in last part of ‘Transactions’ ( ante p. 363, vol. vi.) 
Anas arctica clusii. Puffin. 
Ardea stellaris, botaurus or bitouv, is also common. Bittern. 
Bustard. Not infrequent. A melancholy interest is attached 
to this bird, as it is no longer an inhabitant of Norfolk. 
Morinellus, or Dotterell. About Thetford. 
Sea-Dotterell. Turnstone. 
Godwyts. From Browne’s allusion to the daintiness and high 
price of these birds, agreeing with Pennant’s statement, Stevenson 
considered this reference to allude to the Black-tailed Godwit. 
which, within the last century, has ceased to breed in Norfolk, 
It is now an irregular migrant only. The Yarwhelp, an old name 
for this Godwit, is mentioned separately by Browne, as if it were 
another bird, but his description does not quite apply. 
Gnats or Knots. 
Erythropus, or Redshank. “ Common in the marshes, but no 
dayntie dish.” 
Avicula maialis, or May Chitt. From the description of this 
bird, there is no doubt that it was the Sanderling (Stevenson). 
Stints. “In great numbers about the sea-shore and marshes.” 
Churre. Probably “a full-sized Dunlin in one of its various 
stages of plumage” (Stevenson). 
Green Plover. Lapwing. 
Grey Plover. 
Avis pugnans. Ruffe. Ruff. “ Most abound in marshland, 
but are also in good number in the marshes between Norwich and 
Yarmouth.” I fear this bird has ceased to breed here of late years. 
Browne noted the pugnacious character of the Ruffs towards each 
other. He may have observed what is now called “ the play of 
ruffs,” and considered it more pugnacious than it really is. 
“ Of Picus martius, or Woodspeck, many kinds.” Though Picas 
martins is the Linnean name for the Great Black Woodpecker, 
it was originally used as a more general term for all birds that 
climbed trees (Newton), and in that sense it appears to be used 
here, the individual species being enumerated below. 
