A HISTORY OF NORFOLK 246. Knot. Tringa canutus, Linn. The knot is a common autumn and spring migrant ; at the former season mostly young birds occur, but at the latter very fine red birds are often met with. 247. Sanderling. Calidris arenaria (Linn.). The sanderling is most abundant here in autumn, a few are met with in winter, and in the spring they pass till the end of May or even the beginning of June, when they are in perfect breeding plumage. 248. Ruff. Machetes pugnax (Linn.). This is a bird possessed of peculiar interest to Norfolk ornithologists from the persistent way in which it has striven to hold its own as a breeding species in this its last resort in the British Isles. Once very numerous in various parts of the county it is now reduced to one favoured spot, where it is possible an occasional nest may still be met with ; but the bird, although it has long lingered on the verge of extinction, must now be regarded in the same light as most of the other sandpipers, that is of a spring and autumn migrant, only ane instance being known of its having oc- curred here in winter. 249. Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites ru- fescem (Vieillot). This is a very rare accidental visitor, which has been obtained five times in Norfolk, the last at Blakeney on September 7th, 1899. 250. Common Sandpiper. Tetanus hypoleucus (Linn.). The common sandpiper is a spring and autumn migrant not often met with in sum- mer. It has long been suspected of occasion- ally breeding in Norfolk, but such was not proved to be the case till May 25th, 1897, when a nest with four eggs was found under a gooseberry bush at Hickling by Mr. Oswin Lee. This curious situation for a nest is not unique. See Thompson's Natural History of Ireland (vol. ii. 'Birds,' p. 212). 251. Wood-Sandpiper. Totanus glareola (Gmelin). The wood-sandpiper is also met with during its spring and autumn migration. A very juvenile example, presumptive of its having been bred in the neighbourhood, was taken at Beechamwell about the year 1840 [Zoologist, 1846, p. 1324 with fig.). 252. Green Sandpiper. Totanus ochropus (Linn.). This species is met with at all seasons of the year with us, but is most frequent in autumn. Although suspected of breeding in this county its nest has never yet been dis- covered. 253. Redshank. Totanus calidris (Linn.). The redshank is still fairly common, and breeds both inland and on the coast. 254. Spotted Redshank. Totanus fuscus (Linn.). This bird is not uncommon in immature plumage. Fine adult examples have been obtained in spring. 255. Greenshank. Totanus canescens (Gme- lin). Like so many of its family the greenshank is a passing spring and autumn migrant most of those met with in the former season being young birds. It has not been met with in winter. 256. Red-breasted Snipe. Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmelin). The red-breasted snipe has occurred three times in Norfolk, each time in October and not far from Yarmouth. 257. Bar-tailed Godwit. Limosa lapponica (Linn.). This bird is met with more frequently on the mud-flats of East Norfolk than elsewhere. Although sometimes abundant at the times of migration, it is very uncertain. 258. Black-tailed Godwit. Limosa belgica (Gmelin). The black-tailed godwit probably ceased to breed in Norfolk about the year 1830. It now only occurs at the seasons of migration. It was locally known as the ' shrieker.' 259. Curlew. Numenius arquata (Linn.). The curlew is to be found feeding on the mud-flats at almost all seasons, but most fre- quently in autumn. A pair nested in Wol- ferton Fen in the summers of 1889 and 1890. 260. Whimbrel. Numenius phteopus (Linn.). A common bird on the marshy parts of the coast in spring and autumn. 261. Black Tern. Hydrochelidon nigra {Lmn.). Locally, Scare-Crow. When the black tern ceased to breed in Norfolk is not known, but it must have been very numerous both on the east and west side of the county in suitable localities. In a MS. note dated 1 8 1 8, Mr. Lubbock says it ' breeds in myriads near Upton Broad and the fens for miles round were enlivened by the blue dars.' After an extensive flood in Hockwold and Fetwell fens, in 1853, three P'^* nested 2^2
