Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 1 (1897).djvu/382

354 Lapwing and Redshank. I generally shoot a few young one during the month of August, high tides driving them from the Rands to the fen ditches.

—The Reed Warbler is nothing near so numerous in the district as of yore. When a youngster, I was fond of trailing through the tall reeds to search for Reed Warbler's nests, and had little difficulty in finding half a score. Now it would take a lot of searching to find that quantity of nests, and judging from the few birds one sees, this species has decreased very much during the past ten years.

—The Reed Bunting, like the Warbler, is on the decrease. Several, however, still remain and breed by the side of the deep ditches. Strange to say, though I have lived with these Buntings during a period extending over twenty years, I have only found two nests, one containing five young ones, the other four eggs, which I added to my collection.

—Alas, for our gaudiest of British birds! Are we to retain it in Norfolk, or will this handsome bird, like the Great Auk, become extinct? It is rare at the present day to see a Kingfisher. I still know one place where a couple annually breed, and fortunate for such the owner of that particular nestingground worships their presence as a Hindoo would a god. Woe be to the miscreant who would dare to disturb that pair of sacred fishers. If any bird requires protection in Norfolk, it is the Kingfisher. In the year 1883 Kingfishers were very numerous on the fens, and I could see them daily. Occasionally I noticed as many as half a dozen together. Severe winters and the gun have almost exterminated this beautiful species as far as Norfolk is concerned.

—The Skylark breeds profusely all over the marshes, and during nesting-time eggs can be found anywhere and everywhere. During the past twenty years I have found several nests of the Skylark containing young Cuckoos, the latter being very common at present in the gardens and thickets on the verge of the fens.

—Of late years the Meadow Pipit seems to be on the decrease, though several still breed with us. I have seen a few nests myself this season, and allowed the same to remain undisturbed.