mh. a. Patterson’s natural history notes from Yarmouth. 4S7 
On the 8th I also obtained a live Great Spotted Woodpecker 
trom the skipper of a lugger. 
October 10th. Durrant had altogether forty- four Scaups, also 
a Bewick Swan. 
Mug rat tus. I find the Black Rat has become numerous north 
of Regent Street. I obtained a magnificent on October 13th, 
and one was sent mo from Market Row on the 18th. 
One boat brought in three lasts of Mackerel (39,000 fish) on 
October 20th. It was a fine sight, this £300 odd worth of 
Mackerel in one lugger. The largest Mackerel I ever saw was on 
the 21st. Its length was 21 j inches, girth 12 inches, weight 3 lbs. 
7 ozs. My longest previous was 20 inches. 
October 25th. The “Morning Leader” of to-day mentions the 
stranding of nine Porpoises near Palling, the position indicated 
being Winterton. I have not myself gleaned any facts respecting 
them. 
October 25th. I was on the Wharf this morning and think 
I never saw so many Herring there before in one day. The boats 
lined the Quay from the beginning of the Fish Wharf quite up 
to the grand stand on the racecourse opposite Gorleston Ferry. 
On the 7th November a 14 ft. 4 in. example of the Thrasher or 
Fox Shark was taken into Lowestoft Harbour. 
On 19th November I saw a Green Sandpiper. This is rather 
a late date for this species, which generally departs at least by 
October 1st. 
About a month ago, a dead Eel, about 2 feet long, was observed 
floating on the surface of the water at Horsey Mere. On being 
more closely examined it was found to have a Water Vole first in 
its gullet, having been choked in attempting to swallow it. 
On November 24th, one Golden-eye Duck (immature) on 
Durrant’s stall. 
On November 30th a long-tailed Duck (a $ ) was shot on Breydon. 
On December 1 1th a Porbeagle Shark, six feet long, was brought 
to the Fish Wharf. Porbeagles have been more frequent on this 
coast of late than any other species of that family. 
On December 12th thousands of Wild Pigeons crossed over the 
town, flying East to West. Quite a cloud of them. 
On December 17th seven Wild Swans were observed at Totter 
Heigham by my friend Mr. W. U. Moore. 
