456 
MR. A. H. PATTERSON ON YARMOUTH NATURAL HISTORY. 
Several Bar-tailed Godwits on Breydon in May. They are 
inclined to work the muds in company, like sheep, keeping 
close together and feeding half-leg deep, “pricking” pro- 
miscuously at about every third step in search of red mud- 
worms {Nereis diversicolor). 
When passing a fish shop on May 20th I observed the 
“ sides ” of a freshly cut up, recently captured Skate, the 
colour and unusual markings attracting my attention. The 
“ dock ” or body part had been removed, with the tail, but 
the two “ sides,” of a decided drab colour, adorned with the 
distinctive spottings, referred to by Couch as “ Ocellated 
spots, the size of the section of a pea, the centre yellow, the 
border a deeper impression of the colour of the ground,” 
were at once indicative of the species. Couch knew the fish, 
naming it the Sandy Ray ( Baca circularis ) ; and Matthias 
Dunn, of Nevagissey, also considered it a distinct and true 
species. Day, on the other hand, for some reason best known 
to himself, coupled it with the Cuckoo Ray, a species I am 
well acqnainted with, as was Dunn. From enquiries made, 
I ascertained that the fish had been caught by a Lowestoft 
smack off the North Norfolk coast ; and I feel safe in placing 
it on the County list of fishes. 
June 4th, on this late date I observed four Bar-tailed 
Godwits on Breydon, as “ grey ” as in mid-winter. 
Two Spoonbills on Breydon, apparently young birds, on 
June 23rd. 
July 22nd. By this date a number of Curlews and Whimbrel 
had returned to Breydon. And on the 26th, when in company 
with a Cheshire naturalist, was astonished to see a Cuckoo 
settled on the mud, from which we disturbed it 
Myriads of the pretty wasp-like Syrphus pryasiri swarming 
the outskirts of the town, many being drowned in Breydon. 
A “double” Plaice, an exceedingly rare variety, was 
brought me on August 31st. The travelling eye rested in 
the characteristic notch ; and the under side, all but on the 
