A HISTORY OF SUFFOLK October coming in over the water, and the boldly-contrasted black and grey of its plu- mage make it an easy bird to identify. It soon makes itself at home in its winter quarters, and frequents the sea-shore along the tide-line, where food of some sort is always to be found. Mr. Hele mentions two instances of its breeding near Aldeburgh in 1872 and 1873, and an egg marked in his handwriting ' Roy- ston, Hazelwood,* is in the museum collection at Ipswich. This bird is sometimes spoken of as the * carrion-crow.' 90. Rook. Corvus frugiUgus, Linn. Many of the Suffolk farmhouses and par- sonages, as well as the large country mansions, have their rookery, these colonics varying in size from a dozen nests to ten or twenty times that number. Rooks are in their way as migratory as starlings, and numbers cross the North Sea in autumn, sometimes striking the light-vessels. This bird is almost omni- vorous, and in dry seasons will eat any eggs that come in its way, especially those of ducks and other water-birds, while its fondness for grain makes the employment of * bud-scarin' ' (bird-scaring) boys a necessity on farms near a rookery. Still it devours a vast number of worms and insects, and like the bullfinch deserves to be frightened away with powder rather than slaughtered with shot, for there is hardly any bird more closely connected with country life in East Anglia. 91. Sky-Lark. Alauda arvensis, Linn. A resident, breeding as early as the middle of April and as late as the end of July, in cornfields, meadows, marshes and commons. In winter, sky-larks collect in vast flocks on the Stubbles, and multitudes cross the North Sea during the autumn migration. Perhaps more of these birds perish from striking the lights than any other species, and the number picked up is sometimes sufficient to provide the crew of a lightship with a substantial meal. 92. Wood-Lark. Alauda arborea, Linn. A very local resident, which seems only to have been found breeding on the western side of the county near the Norfolk border. Com- paratively few people know of its existence, but those wishing to add to their knowledge will find an admirable account of the bird and its habits in SuflFolk in Yarrell's British Birds (ed. 4, i. 625-31). It is a smaller bird than the sky-lark, with a shorter tail and a con- spicuous streak over the eye. 93. Short-toed Lark. Alauda hrachydactyla, Leisler. One was shot « near South Breydon Wall, Great Yarmouth' on 7 November, 1889 {Zoologist, 1890, p. 77), which would claim a place in the Suffolk rather than the Norfolk list. 94. Shore-Lark. Otocorys alpestris (Linn.) The shore-lark used to be considered a great rarity, and was not known as a British bird till 1830, when the first recorded speci- men was obtained in Norfolk. Mr. Hele first met with it at Aldeburgh in November, 1864, by the merest chance, as having shot at two birds on the ground to obtain food for a tame hobby, he picked up a fine cock shore- lark, which is still in the Ipswich Museum, and the second bird, which was wounded at the time, was brought to him a few days later. In the second edition of his book (1890) he was able to describe it as ' by no means uncommon.' In matters relating to birds it is easier to state facts than to give an explanation of them, and the cause of the great increase in the number of shore-larks which now come to the east coast of England as winter migrants has yet to be made known. In 1896 two were obtained near Needham Market, an unusually long distance from the sea (Lingwood). 95. Swift. Cypselus apus (Linn.) Locally, Deviling, Shriek-Devil, Rain-bird, Shriek-Owl and Screech-Owl. Whoever bestowed on the swift the first two of the local names given above must have imagined that there was something 'uncanny' about the dusky colour, rapid flight and piercing cry of the bird. But it is a charming and interesting creature, and one which should never be destroyed or disturbed. The swift is a late summer migrant, seldom arriving before May, though Professor Newton was able to record in the Field the appearance of one at Lowestoft on 26 March, 1897, which was plainly seen by himself and his brother. All the Suffolk swifts nest in buildings of some kind, and there has always been a flourishing colony in the tower of Elmswell church, but there is at least one place in East Anglia where these birds still retain what must be regarded as their original habit of breeding in a cliff. One singular habit of the swift is that of gathering into bands towards the close of the day and dashing about at lightning speed, all the birds at in- tervals squealing in chorus. This performance appears to be gone through simply for exer- cise or amusement, and the birds seem to enjoy it thoroughly. The name of ' rain- bird ' has been forwarded by an observer near Woodbridge, and is in accordance with Mr. 190
