320 MR. A. PATTERSONls NATURAL HISTORY 
September 14th. A 13-inch Haddock was brought me 
singularly curved at the posterior end ; a half circular de- 
pression being formed between the second and third dorsal 
fins. On dissection I found two knot-like processes in the 
backbone, caused by an enlargement and coalescence of the 
vertebra, each the size of acorns. 
September 18th. An inrush of Golden Plovers took place 
at night, and several were brought to market the next day. 
September 20th. Some Little Stints ( Tringa minuta ) on 
Breydon. 
September 28th. After a series of easterly winds, as is my 
usual custom, I patrolled the beach, examining the flotsam 
thrown up at the tide-mark in search of stranded sea-birds. 
My quest was rewarded by finding a dead Manx Shearwater 
( Puffmus anglorum), in an exceedingly emaciated state. On 
the same date (September 28th) I saw some mischievous 
boys stoning a wearied-out Red Throated Diver ( Colymbus 
septentrionalis ) wave-muddled and tamed. A very immature 
Guillemot and a Razorbill were thrown ashore among the 
seaweeds. 
September 29th. First Woodcock in the market. 
October 9th. A Storm Petrel was brought me alive. It 
had been taken on board a fishing lugger. With very little 
difficulty I got it to nibble at a Herring-roe held between my 
fingers ; itself meanwhile sitting contentedly in my left hand. 
It swallowed minute portions of ova, accompanying the process 
by much head-shaking; it would dig out pieces, as Gulls snatch 
out lumps of flesh from a decomposed carcase, with a back- 
ward movement. A second Petrel was brought me alive on 
November 7th, but died shortly after. 
Grey Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius ) shot on Breydon 
early in October. 
October 10th. Rooks and Siskins arriving. 
October 13th. I estimated about 4000 Gulls on Breydon ; 
3000 at least were Black-headed Gulls, the others mostly 
Black-backed Gulls in various stages of plumage ; and there 
were a few Common Gulls. 
Hundreds of Golden Plovers frequented Breydon early in 
