THE BIRDS OF GREAT YARMOUTH AND THE NEIGHBOURHOOD.
By Arthur Patterson.
(Continued from vol. iv. p. 535.)
Fulica atra. Coot.—C. Not so abundant as formerly, but still plentiful. When the Broads are frozen over many repair to Breydon, where they fall comparatively easy victims to the puntguns. A number killed there, Dec. 13th, 1899. They also then occasionally take to the roadstead. Between three hundred and four hundred in one flock on Breydon near my houseboat, Dec. 26th, 1899.
Grus communis. Crane.—A. Though at one time a Norfolk resident, this species is now only an accidental straggler. Three or four are recorded for this locality; the last shot at Halvergate, May 29th, 1888.
Otis tarda. Great Bustard.—A. Although extinct as a resident, migratory examples of this bird occur from time to time in this county. One was observed to come over sea and drop in a turnip-field at Horsey in 1820 (B. of N. vol. ii. p. 30). Another was watched for some time by Capt. Rising on the Horsey marshes, Jan. 17th, 1867.
O. tetrax. Little Bustard.—A. A fine adult female shot on Southtown marshes, near Yarmouth, March 14th, 1858. One at Bradwell, November, 1885. A third at Waxham, Aug. 10th, 1889; and on May 3rd, 1898, one was shot at Kessingland in full summer plumage.
Œdicnemus scolopax. Stone-Curlew.—R. Rarely met with here. One shot on Breydon walls, July 3 1st, 1897, and another on the Bure marshes on Sept. 16th, 1898.
Glareola pratincola. Pratincole.—A. Messrs. Paget record: "A pair shot on Breydon wall. May, 1827." They were male and female; their stomachs were filled with beetles. Were extremely dirty and besmeared with blood, and Harvey's (the
