322 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
November 28th. A full grown Herring, on whose left side 
was an unsightly tumour about the size of a two-shilling piece, 
was brought me. The fish was in an emaciated condition, 
and exhaled a most unwholesome odour. After roughly 
sketching the wretch I cremated him. This is the second 
example similarly afflicted which has come to my notice. 
December 15th. A Woodcock weighing 12 ounces hung 
in the market ; it had a bill only 2 inches long. 
Mus alexandrinus turned up rather more numerously in 
November and December than heretofore ; whilst Mus rattus 
has in no way diminished in numbers in the town. 
December 18th. Saw a 12-inch Plaice, the tail of which 
exhibited a queer half-turn ; the tail itself was doubled over 
on one side, the membrane being so connected that it formed 
a tunnel-like hollow, up which I easily ran my pencil. 
XIV. 
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 
Wild Bird Protection on the Norfolk Coast. — Those 
who have read in the ‘ Birds of Norfolk ’ the sad story 
of the persecution suffered by the shore-breeding birds 
on the Norfolk Coast, even so late as the year 1890, and 
regretted the rapid process of extermination which then 
seemed to threaten these interesting visitors, will rejoice in 
the beneficent change which has been brought about by the 
strict enforcement of the enactments for the protection of 
Wild Birds. Certain species, such as the Bittern, Black 
Tern, Godwit, Avocet, and Ruff were lost to us beyond 
recall, and the Common and Lesser Terns, with the Great 
