NOTES FROM YARMOUTH. 
6ll 
of the Terns, and their dashes to escape necessitate a stronger 
plunge to reach them, at which times the birds almost 
disappear below the surface. On other winds the water is 
“ thicker,” and the little Herrings playing at the surface are 
easily and daintily snatched by the sharp-pointed bill, without 
so much as wetting the Tern’s plumage. 
On August 18th four Reeves (probably immature Ruffs 
and Reeves) passed me. On this date 1 went smelting with 
a Breydoner ; we took about ten score, and with them many 
Atherines (Atherina presbyter). I examined some young 
Herrings which 1 found packed with Opossum Shrimps, from 
the stomach of one, 4.V inches long, 1 turned out quite a 
thimble-full — perhaps 120 Shrimps all told. 
Redshanks were scarcer all August : I think they had a bad 
nesting season. 
August 20th. 1 saw a Grey Plover with the breast as 
black as in springtime. 
The Green-hank is peculiarly addicted to hopping on one 
leg, feeding as he goes ; no bird have I noticed that so 
persistently pursues this habit. I saw two hopping together 
on August 2 1st. When feeding. Redshanks probe as they 
go, making detached figure “8’s”; the Greenshanks join 
their “ figure 8’s ” in a long continuous zig-zag line. The 
Redshank seldom bores, preferring to pick up its food : it-- 
last task, usually, before taking to flight, unless put up. is to 
wash its breast. 
On August 2 1st, on opening a Flounder, to prepare it for 
the fry-pan. I found a small one of its own species in its 
stomach, an unusual circumstance. 
August 24th. Quite 100 Curlews on the mud flats. 
After the long spell of immunity from persecution which 
the close season now affords, and before the banging of guns 
is heard on every hand, and they are being harassed day 
and night, coupled with the incursion of young and confiding 
birds, the various species of Gulls, Sandpipers, and Plovers, 
are, in August, generally abundant on marsh and mud flat, 
and remarkably tame. 
