A HISTORY OF NORFOLK amongst the reeds in the most inaccessible parts of the fen. 155. Purple Heron. Ardea purpurea, hinn. The purple heron has been met with seve- ral times in Norfolk, but I believe always in immature plumage. I 56. Squacco Heron. Ardea ralloides, Scopoli. And adult male squacco heron was killed at Surlingham on June 26th, 1863. A few others have been recorded, all but one (of which the exact date was doubtful) in the summer months. 157- Night-Heron. Nycticorax grUeus {h n.). The night-heron has been killed in Norfolk more than a dozen times, the last at RoUesby on November 8th, 1899. Mr. Stevenson included the great white heron, little egret, and bufF-backed heron in the Birds of Norfolk on what is now considered doubtful evidence. 158. Little Bittern. Jrdetta minuta (Linn.). This is an occasional visitant to the broads in summer, where there is no doubt it for- merly bred, and there is strong presumptive evidence of its having done so on two occa- sions in recent years. On July 3rd, 1893, also two males in full plumage were shot at Rollesby, but no nest was found. It was also heard at Saham Toney in June, 1894, and again in July, 1896. 159. Bittern. Botaurus stellarh (Linn.). This species was at the beginning of the century a very abundant inhabitant of the broads and fens of Norfolk, but must now be regarded as a somewhat frequent winter mi- grant, the past winter (i 899-1 900) having been unusually productive. It doubtless nested freely in suitable localities, and even now would probably do so if not molested, as it shows a disposition to stay late in spring. The last nest was found on March 30th, 1868, and a very young bird was caught alive on May 25 th of the same year and in the same locality. The breeding ' boom ' was heard in the last week in May, 1886, at Sutton Broad, and on August loth a young female, with down still adhering to some of its feathers, was killed at Ludham, probably the offspring of the bird heard in the spring. 160. White Stork. Ciconia alba, Bechstein. The white stork occurs in Norfolk as an occasional spring or autumn straggler. At least twenty-four instances are on record. 161. Black Stork. Ciconia nigra (Linn.). The black stork is a very rare summer visitant here. Not more than three occur- rences have been recorded, the last on April 23rd, 1 888. 162. Glossy Ibis. Plegadis fa/cine/lus (Linn.). This bird must be looked on as a rare straggler in Norfolk. Possibly it was more frequently met with in the past. Mr. Lub- bock states, on the authority of his friend, Mr. Girdlestone, that forty years before the year 1824 these birds were not so scarce as at the time he wrote, and were known to the Lynn gunners as the ' black curlew.' 163. Spoonbill. Platalea leucorodia, Linn. An annual summer visitant, especially to Breydon, where small flocks are seen every spring. Mr. Gurney estimates that in the twelve summers ending 1898, ninety-three spoonbills visited Breydon, and that, thanks to the watcher of the Protection Society, nearly all of them escaped. Six frequented the Breydon mud-flats for several days in May, 1899. Sir Thomas Browne says, 'they formerly built in the Hernery at Claxton and Reedham ; and now at Trimley in Suffolk.' 164. Grey Lag-Goose. Anser cinereus^yisyer. Formerly an inhabitant of the fens in the south-west part of the county, but is now only a rare and occasional winter visitor. 165. White-fronted Goose. Amer albifrom (Scopoli). The white-fronted goose is by no means a common species here, and is of very uncer- tain occurrence. 166. Bean-Goose. Amer ugetem (Gmelin). This is also a winter visitor of xmcertain appearance. Mr. Booth considers this the most abundant species Norfolk. 167. on the east coast of Pink-footed Goose. Amer brachyrhyn- chus, Baillon. This goose is rare on the east coast of the county, but its headquarters are at Holkham, where large flocks frequent the marshes every winter. 168. Red-breasted Goose. Bernicia rufcollis (Pallas). A bird of this species is said to have been killed at Halvergate in 1805 ; it was pur- chased and eaten by a Yarmouth naturalist, Mr. Lilly Wigg. The species is so well marked as hardly to be mistaken, and the occurrence of other specimens on the east coast renders the record probable. 236
