BIRDS in the Zoologist for 1888 (p. 185): 'Pro- bable occurrence of the Chough in Suffolk. In a migration schedule received this moining (April 14th) fron' Mr. Owen Boyle, of the Landguard Lighthouse, is the following entry : — " April 2nd, 1888. Two Crows put in an appearance, 7.30 a.m., larger than Jackdaws ; they had red beaks and legs, and went north- west." John Cordeaux.' This seems hardly sufficient to warrant the inclusion of the chough in the Suffolk list, but Mr. Cordeaux, who made a special study of migration, and perhaps did more than any man to interest the keepers of lightships and lighthouses in the subject, appears to have thought the incident worthy of record. 83. Nutcracker. Nucifraga caryocatactes (Linn.) A very rare visitant to England, which has once at least occurred in Suffolk, one having been shot at Gorleston in October, 1864. 84. Jay. Garrulus glandarius (Linn.) This handsome bird is a resident, common enough where it can find woods and copses suitable to its habits. It is not a favourite with gardeners or gamekeepers, and it certainly does a good deal of damage to green peas, but probably the eggs of wood-pigeons and of the various thrushes are much more liable to be eaten by it than those of game birds. 85. Magpie. Pica rustica (Scopoli) Though common enough in many parts of England, the magpie is a rare bird in Suffolk, and almost extinct as a breeding species. 86. Jackdaw. Corvus monedula, Linn. A rather local resident, breeding in hollow trees and church towers. Thorpe Morieux church, near Lavenham, used to provide shelter for a large colony of jackdaws, but the tower has recently been put in order and the holes stopped which contained the nests. Young jackdaws brought up from the nest and allowed perfect liberty with uncut wings make delightftil pets, and become extremely tame, but they are liable to be decoyed away by wild birds at the time of the autumn migration. At this season these birds are often seen literally in swarms, and the oft- repeated calls of ' jack ' from a flock passing overhead have rather a pretty effect. any record exists were built in trees, as there are no clifis of sufficient height on the coast- line nor any inland rocks. In the western division of Suffolk it formerly bred at Drink- stone Park, Icklingham, Elveden, and Santon Downham, also at Stutton, Gedgrave and Middleton in the eastern part of the county, the last occupied nest being at Elveden about 1863 {Ootheca fVolleyana, p. 578). At Middleton a tree is still (1902) stand- ing which used to be resorted to every year, and a former owner of the property caused the ' raven-tree ' to be fenced round for the protection of the nest. On one occa- sion some young ravens from the Gedgrave nest were taken to Leiston, a distance of at least eleven miles, but the old birds found them out and fed them in their new home (G. T. Rope). At Lindsey, near Hadleigh, there is a farm called 'Ravens' Hall,' which may have been thus named from its being an old haunt of this species, though the title may be derived from the surname of a former owner. Mr. Hele used to see and hear ravens from time to time at Aldeburgh, but never obtained a speci- men, and the last occurrence seems to have been that of one shot by a keeper at the Tuddenham in west Suffolk about 1888 or 1889, which was not preserved (F. Norgate). 88. Carrion-Crow. Corvus corone^ Linn. In the 'sixties' this bird was sufficiently common to be known by the local name of 'carroner,' but it seems probable that in the next list of Suffolk birds it will be numbered among the extinct breeders, as no bird is more detested by gamekeepers, and, it must be added, with good reason. The Rev. James Oakes, who was rector of Tostock from 1 796 till 1 86 1, was very fond of a pair or two of carrion crows which bred on his property, and never allowed them to be destroyed, though doubtless the young poultry on his home farm suffered from their depredations. This bird is sometimes seen on the sea-shore, and there are records of its migrations. Viewed from below, the nest of the carrion crow is exactly like that of the rook, but is more warmly lined with wool and fur, and the eggs are rather larger, and as a rule, more richly coloured. In a full clutch of five crow's eggs there is usually an 'odd egg,* much lighter in colour than the rest, and some- times a nestful of eggs is found much resem- bling large eggs of the jackdaw. 87. Raven. Corvus corax, Linn. 89. Hooded Crow. Corvus cornix, Linn. This splendid bird is now quite extinct as Loca/iy, Royston Crow, a resident, and very rare even as a visitant. Near the coast this bird is a common win- All the ravejjs' nests in the county of which ter migrant, which may often be seen in 189
