Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/110

84 marshes and waterways. During the month of September three Solitary Snipes fell victims to the Partridge guns in the locality of Haddiscoe. October witnessed the arrival of many Woodcocks, more than the usual complement. Individuals are being shot even now (January) almost daily; two were killed quite close to my door at Christmas, and another caught in a Rabbit-trap. In November the migration of Snipe exceeded that of many previous years, especially the Jacks, which I found in plenty at favourite haunts, and those I shot were in fine condition, being very fat and plump. Golden Plover have been exceedingly scarce. With December came the cream of wildfowl shooting; the short snap of winter weather in the shape of a snowfall and a few sharp frosts filled the district with all kinds of wildfowl. Some of the gunners who went out with a shoulder-gun grumbled at bad luck after having bagged half a score of Duck in the space of a few hours by the river-side! The numbers slaughtered must have been enormous, the price of Wild Duck coming down as low as a shilling each. From an old Breydon gunner of many years' standing I learnt he had never seen the like before. Such unusual numbers of wild birds brought out sportsmen of all ages with various firearms, and most made good bags. For a few days Snipe-shooting was excellent, and so many killed that local game-dealers only paid fourpence each for them. As regards Coots and Moor-hens, dealers would not be troubled with them, owing to the great number of slain. On Dec. 18th, whilst walking by the side of Breydon, I observed fully three thousand Coots disporting themselves on the still water. On the approach of a gun-punt the whole host, with a mighty roar, took wing, alighting farther afield, only to receive more molestation from some other knight of the trigger. I counted eight punts containing swivel-guns of large calibre, with owners anxiously looking out with field-glasses for a shot, but the best part of the Duck-shooting was over at this date. I shot a specimen of the Great-crested Grebe on the Waveney. Three Goosanders were also procured on the same river, beside a quantity of Tufted Duck and three Smew. I saw several flocks of Geese; one flock numbered thirty-four. A large flock of Barnacle-Geese visited Breydon; one gunner shooting five. Mr. Walter Lowne, taxidermist, of Great Yarmouth, informs me that during the past six months he has received for preserving a beautiful specimen of the Purple Heron, shot in Suffolk; two Bitterns of the common species, one shot in the parish of Martham, the other by the river Bure; a Grey Phalarope, shot on Breydon; and other species which need little attention. From what I have seen, and through information received from reliable sources, I find, in spite of appeals, the slaughter amongst Kingfishers of late has been terrible; I have seen several Kingfishers during the winter.— (Haddiscoe, Norfolk).