728 mr. a. Patterson’s natural history notes from Yarmouth. 
them, whilst the constant flashing of their silvery sides can but 
attract the notice of the least observant. 
July 22nd, early. A Spoonbill, evidently a young one, on 
Breydon. 
On July 23rd, I obtained from a fish hawker a Megrim, 
( Arnoglossus laterna). Length, 4 inches. I cannot guarantee it as 
a “ local ” example. 
July 31st. From a Shrimper I obtained a slightly damaged, but 
full grown example of Axius stirynchus. Only one of the smaller 
pincer claws remained. This is the first example of its kind I have 
known to be taken off this coast. 
On August 1st. A quite “ grey ” Curlew-Sandpiper, with other 
slightly red examples, feeding on the mudflats. This species does 
not “ prick about ” on the surface like the Dunlin, but promptly 
buries the whole of its beak when probing for marine worms. Each 
small wader has its peculiarities ; the Ringed Plover does a great 
deal of erratic running, usually trotting three steps and then 
stopping a moment, seldom covering two feet of mud without a 
halt. The Dunlin covers more ground in the same time. The 
Curlew-Sandpiper is the most deliberate, and often withdraws his 
bill with a patch of mud on his forehead. 
August 17th. Young birds moving south. Saw on this date 
many young Ringed Plovers, Redshanks, and Wimbrels on the flats. 
On August 20tli, Crab pincer claw with the fixed cheloe, a mere 
pointed knob, giving the claw when closed a singularly macaw-like 
appearance ! On September 8th, I received a very large pincer 
claw which had a second fixed chela growing out at a right angle, 
forming, with a third, but smaller point in the angle, a complete W. 
Early in August, a Thornback Ray, size of a dinner-plate, was 
perfectly white on the upper surface, save for a small ring of the 
normal grey around the eyes. 
August 31st. A number of young Lesser Terns, Curlews and 
Knots on Breydon. 
Swifts about until August 31st — my latest noted for some years. 
Probably the early sitting of eggs being addled by cold weather 
(a friend of mine stating that several were thrown out from under 
the eaves of his house), these birds were a late hatch. 
On September 2nd, a live Shag brought me which was taken 
on a fishing boat in the Korth Sea. Is this species becoming 
