3lS MR. A. PATTERSON’S NATURAL HISTORY 
A nest of Ringed Plovers was discovered early in June, on 
the South Beach. 
June 22nd. A remarkable Crab-claw was shown me. 
The “ free ” chela on the larger claw exactly resembled 
a bird’s head, the point turning like the beak of a Rook, and 
a spot, on one side, even did duty for the eye ! 
J uly 2nd. Saw a White Stork on Breydon eai'ly this Sunday 
morning, not a great way from my house-boat. It was very 
restless, and quickly disappeared. Woodcock flushed near 
Breydon, same date. 
July 4th. A hybrid Turbot-Brill, weighing about 3 lbs., 
was shown me. 
July 6th. A flock of 60 Jackdaws were very busy feeding 
on a marsh near the Bure ; among them were undoubtedly 
at least a score bred in our own parish church steeple. 
July 13th. Some considerable number of immature 
Herons, Redshanks, Dunlins, with a few Greenshanks and 
a Wimbrel feeding on the flats. Some young Starlings were 
picking up small crustaceans and Hydrobia off the stranded 
“ Wigeon Grass.” 
A great mortality occurred among the Eels at the end of 
July. Hundreds turned up during a continuance of hot 
weather, dying probably from asphyxia, or from the poisonous 
exhalations of over-heated mud and decaying vegetation. 
August 6th. Spent a quiet Sunday in the house-boat on 
Breydon, reading, feeding, and bird- watching, “ far from 
the madding crowd” of a Bank-holidaying throng in town. 
Was much interested in observing a Black-headed Gull seize 
an Eel about as thick as my finger, which he discovered among 
the stranded “ grass.” It took some pains to shake and 
weary the fish, another Gull offering to assist. Number one 
flew up and away with his prize, preferring to negotiate 
matters alone, and making for a safer locality. Left alone, 
he tried harder to overcome and swallow it, and succeeded 
in taking in half, but the Eel, objecting to this course, twisted 
its tail round the Gull’s upper mandible, and backed out. 
Two or three times the Eel was swallowed and vomited by 
the persistent bird, and then finally bolted ; the last time the 
