MR. W. G. CLARKE OX THE COMMONS OF NORFOLK. 57 
Norfolk on the scale of 6 inches to the mile — a total of 444 — 
and note all the commons and waste places. This, however, 
was obviously open to error, as many place-names with 
“ Common ” still persist, although the land has been enclosed 
for a century or more, and is now arable and inaccessible to 
the public. Other places where the word “ Common” does not 
occur, such as Ringland Hills, Bryant’s Heath, Felmingham, 
and Lye’s Heath, Chedgrave, are also apt to be overlooked 
unless one has a personal knowledge of the locality. So far 
as possible, however, I have had my lists checked by persons 
resident in the various districts, from whom I have also sought 
information as to the character of the various commons, but 
despite this I cannot claim that my list is neither imperfect 
nor inaccurate. All I can claim is that it is the first attempt 
to compile a list of the commons and village greens — only a 
few of the many gravel, marl and chalk pits are included for 
special reasons — of the county still accessible to the public, 
and used as a basis may some day result in the publication 
of a perfect list. Nevertheless if the attention of naturalists 
should by this means be drawn to the study of the fauna and 
flora of these areas my purpose will have been fully served. 
So far as I have been able to ascertain, land accessible to 
the public, and in some way owned by them, is to be found 
in 157 of the 802 parishes in the county, the total area being 
approximately 11,324 acres. The largest area of common 
land in any one parish is Massingham Heath which is about 
730 acres in extent, in addition to 132 acres in two commons. 
Other large commons in the neighbourhood are those of 
Bircham (about 222 acres), Syderstone (about 206 acres), and 
West Rudham (about 183 acres). Part of the fen itself is 
Feltwell West Fen (360 acres), while on its borders are Roydon 
Common (about 670 acres), and Foulden Common (about 
306 acres). Adjoining Thetford is Bavnham Cross Common 
with an area of about 200 acres. In the northern part of the 
county there is a large area of heaths over which there are 
certain public rights in Kelling, Salthouse and Weybourne ; 
heather-covered fuel allotments of 181 acres and 159 acres in 
Marsham and Hevingham ; big “ wet ” commons in East 
