82 mr. a. h. Patterson’s natural history 
migrants. Whimbrel smothered the flats and were seen on 
ronds, walls, everywhere in fact. Saw 4 Sheld-ducks, and 
many Ringed Plovers and Dunlins. Wind N.N.E. and as cold 
as in winter. 
The Greenshank ( Tetanus canescens) is in great disrepute 
amongst Breydon and other sportsmen as a bird for the table. 
I have observed it feeding mostly on crustaceans, shrimps for 
preference. It is said to smell uncommonly rank when 
stewing, and more than one have told me what a trouble they 
had to eradicate the offensive odour left in the saucepan after 
cooking. 
On May 16th when strolling along Breydon walls, in company 
with Mr. R. Chase of Birmingham, a small Gull flew past us, 
whose white primaries at once attracted his attention. As if 
to favour us with a better view, the bird obligingly alighted 
on a little knoll in an adjoining marsh, allowing us to get 
within easy gun-shot range, and affording us a fine opportunity 
with our glasses. It spread its wings in a tired sort of way, 
and was exceedingly tame. We saw that its primaries were 
pure white, and Mr. Chase, who has in his possession the 
Mediterranean Black-headed Gull ( Lams melanocephalus) 
shot on Breydon on December 26th, 1886, as well as myself, 
had no hesitation in pronouncing it as belonging to the same 
species. 
On May 19th, for the first time, I fell in with the Burton 
Skate (Raia alba), the young of which, as depicted by Couch 
under the name of the Bordered Ray, is distinguished by a well- 
defined wide border of black upon the white under side of the 
fish. My fish, which was ii| in. long and 8 in. across the disc, 
I despatched to the late Mr. T. Southwell, who had no 
hesitation in referring it to the above species. The upper side 
was drab-coloured, with no spiny process anywhere but on 
the tail, which contained three rows of spines, and there were 
one or two against each eye. This was the last fish, of a goodly 
number, which my dear departed friend was delighted to 
receive from my hands. 
A fine Lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus) was netted on Breydon 
