MR. W. G. CLARKE ON BRECKLAND CHARACTERISTICS. 573 
at Mill Hill in Merton Park not far from the Tottington and 
Threxton boundaries, and on “ The Sheepwalk ” north-west 
of Thompson Water, where a tumulus and several acres 
adjoining are thickly covered. The first locality is about 
a mile and the second about 200 yards from a tributary of 
the Wissey which Hows through Thompson and Stanford 
Waters. Though beyond the bounds of Breckland, it is 
interesting to note that C. arenaria has been found on Swaffham 
Heath not far from the river Nar, and Corynephorous canescens 
on a patch of post-glacial gravel at Homersfield in the Waveney 
Valley, further evidence of saltwater creeks in the post-glacial 
period. Though not essentially maritime Rmnex maritimus 
occurs much more frequently near the sea than inland. It 
has been recorded from Broadmere, Troston ; Mildenhall ; 
Fornham Heath (near Hengrave Park) ; Ringmere, and 
Langmere. Erythrcea littoralis has been found at Brandon 
and between Wangford and Lakenheath, and Vicia lutea 
among lucerne at Brandon. 
Though not a maritime plant Phltum Bcehmeri is very 
curious in its distribution, usually occurring on small raised 
pieces of land. South of the Lark it has been recorded from 
Kentford Heath ; between the Lark and Little Ouse from 
Troston Heath, Eriswell. Weather Heath, and Lakenheath 
Warren ; and between the Little Ouse and Thet from Rushford 
and West Harling Heaths. 
We have Sir Thomas Browne’s authority for the fact that 
Sheld-duck formerly bred in rabbit- burrows about Xorthwold 
and other places, but the only shore-bird that now regularly 
nests in^the district is the Ringed Plover, and though it is fairly 
widely distributed, I am convinced that a reasonably accurate 
census of all the birds nesting in Breckland might be taken by 
any competent observer in a # week of the nesting season. 
Unlike the sand-dune plants, the Ringed Plover has no restric- 
tions which prevent it from extending its range and it certainly 
does not always nest on the same part of any given heath. 
It appears to have a preference for derelict “ brecks,” where 
the white stones spotted with black lichen render it practically 
impossible to distinguish its eggs. But when these lands are 
under cultivation a new nesting-place is sought. In 1897 and 
