400 MR. A. TATTBRSON’s NATURAL HISTORY NOTES FROM YARMOUTH. 
an adult fish. The anterior portion, for three-fourths of the length, 
was roe, the milt being wedged into the lobes of ova. 
Goldfinches unusually common around Acle during the latter 
part of January. 
On February 26th I found on a fish-hawker’s barrow, a Plaice, 
about the size of my hand ; the anterior half of the upper surface 
was of the normal colour, the latter portion being white with 
faint orange spots dotted here and there. I made a sketch of it. 
Singularly enough, on meeting with this same fish-hawker a fort- 
night after, and on overhauling his “ wares,” I found another 
correspondingly variegated. This points to a probable brood of 
fishes exhibiting this strange admixture of colouration, all doubt- 
less related. 
More Wild-fowl have been seen in this immediate neighbourhood 
since February 1st than during all the preceding winter. I refer 
more especially to Ducks. A Pochai’d or two on the 1st in the 
market. 
The bird-catching prosecution of the 3rd February has caused 
consternation amongst the local bird-catching fraternity. 
March 1st. Like summer-time on Breydon. A considerable 
number of Binged Plovers on the flats, the advanced contingent of 
spring-wader migrants. 
I have for a considerable period tried to detect the Hooded Crow 
in search of Mussels, but so far without avail. As a matter of 
fact, at low tide this bird frequently pulls these Molluscs from the 
little stone and shell covered patches in the drains left at low 
water. Then flying towards the Breydon stone walls it lets the 
Mussel drop in order to break it, and then descends to pick it up, 
taking it upon the grass-covered wall and leisurely devouring it. 
Near my house-boat the walls are sprinkled with the broken valves. 
In course of conversation with old Breydoners on this subject they 
distinctly affirm that “Hoodie” was often seen in their gunning 
days to search for Mussels when hard put to, and mounting with 
them would drop them on the ice. Failing a first successful fall, 
the bird would mount still higher until its object was obtained, 
namely, the breaking of the shell. 
