Again, writing on the 16th, Mr. Patterson says:—"To-day's [Yarmouth] market reminded me of the old-fashioned times. There was scarcely a stall without its odd Lapwing, or its bunch of Starlings or Blackbirds. There were scores of Redwings, Fieldfares, and Thrushes; one person had a bunch of Sparrows, and another of Greenfinches... On one stall, with the Scaup I sent you (the "white-nosed day-fowl" of our old gunners), were a half-score Pochards. Last night guns were banging on Breydon Broad all night. Dunlins smothered the flats, I am told. One old lady had a Shoveler. There were two Long-eared Owls up to-day, two Stock-Doves, and some very juvenile Wood-Pigeons. This morning some Coots were swimming about in the lower river, and boys were stoning them. Seven [Whooper?] Swans have been seen on Breydon."
Similar accounts were received from Mr. Dye, who mentions that numbers of wildfowl passed over Yarmouth going south, and that the cries of Golden Plover were heard at night, as is often the case when they are attracted by the street-lamps.
The rainfall for the year, as taken in my garden, was 24·43, the dryest months being June (1·20) and August (·37); while the wettest, July (3·38), was almost entirely owing to one tremendous downpour on July 23rd. In 1898 the rainfall at Keswick was 23·45, both years being below the average; and our wells, which have been quite dry, still want water.
As it is sometimes convenient to know afterwards what specimens were examined by the recorder, a dagger (†) in the following notes indicate such as were so inspected.
January.
1st.—A few Golden Plover at the poulterer's. A Shag † allowed itself to be captured while fishing in Blakenny cut, and, though exhibiting no apparent injury, did not live many days; it had strength, however, to chase and kill some Goldfish in a pond. Although in adult winter plumage it already had a few of the glossy spring feathers showing in places. Four Shags were recorded in last year's "Notes," and they certainly are not the rarity in Norfolk they used to be; it would be interesting to know to what British colony we are indebted for them, as they
