us, which their great number of fowls afford, and sometimes store of feathers, consisting of the feathers of small birds. Beside shocks and little hairy dogs, they bring another sort over, headed like a fox, which they say are bred betwixt dogs and foxes; these are desired by the shepherds of this country. Green plovers, which are plentiful here in the winter, are found to breed there in the beginning of summer. Some sheep have been brought over, but of coarse wool, and some horses of mean stature, but strong and hardy; one whereof, kept in the pastures by Yarmouth, in the summer, would often take the sea, swimming a great way, a mile or two, and return the same: when its provision failed in the ship wherein it was brought, for many days fed upon hoops and cask; nor at the land would, for many months, be brought to feed upon oats. These accounts I received from a native of Island, who comes yearly into England; and by reason of my long acquaintance and directions I send unto some of his friends against the elephantiasis (leprosy), constantly visits me before his return; and is ready to perform for me what I shall desire in his country; wherein, as in other ways, I shall be very ambitious to serve the noble society, whose most honouring servant I am. Norwich, January 15, 1663. THOMAS BROWNE. AN ACCOUNT OF BIRDS FOUND IN NORFOLK. [MS. SLOAN. 1830, fol. 5-22; and 31.] I WILLINGLY obey your command; in setting down such birds, fishes, and other animals, which for many years I have observed in Norfolk. Besides the ordinary birds, which keep constantly in the country, many are discoverable, both in winter and summer, which are of a migrant nature, and exchange their seats according to the season. Those which come in the spring, coming for the most part from the southward; those which come in the autumn or winter, from the northward; so that they are observed to come in great flocks, with a north-east wind, and to depart with a south-west: nor to come only in flocks of one kind, but teal, woodcocks, fieldfares, thrushes, and small birds, to come and light together; for the most part some hawks and birds of prey attending them. The great and noble kind of eagle, called aquila Gesneri,1 I have not seen in this country; but one I met with in this country, brought from Ireland, which I kept two years, feeding with whelps, cats, rats, and the like; in all that while not giving it any water; which I afterward presented unto my worthy friend Dr. Scarburgh. Of other sorts of eagles, there are several kinds, especially of the halyætus or fen eagles; some of three yards and a quarter from the extremity of the wings;2 whereof one being taken alive, grew so tame, that it went about the yard feeding on fish, red herrings, flesh, and any offals, without the least trouble. There is also a lesser sort of eagle, called an osprey, which hovers about the fens and broads, and will dip his claw, and take up a fish, ofttimes; for which his foot is made of an extraordinary roughness, for the better fastening and holding of it; and the like they will do unto coots. Aldrovandus takes particular notice of the great number of kites about London and about the Thames. We are not without them here, though not in such numbers. Here are also the grey and bald buzzard; of all which the great I aquila Gesneri.] Falco chrysaetos, the golden eagle; the largest of the genus, known to breed in the mountainous parts of Ireland. 2 some, &c.] Haliætus nisus,-falco ossifragus, Lin. The sea eagle. Few specimens, however, measure more than seven or eight feet from the extremities of the wings. A specimen of F. fulvus, the Cromer.-G. 3 osprey.] Falco haliætus, Lin. near Cromer.-G. kites.] F. milvus, L. 5 grey. Probably F. buteo. 6 bald. The bald buzzard is a name usually given to the osprey. Dr. Browne, however, having just spoken of the osprey, must here refer to some other species-perhaps F. aeruginosus. number of broad waters and warrens make no small number, and more than in woodland counties. Cranes are often seen here in hard winters, especially about the champian and fieldy part. It seems they have been more plentiful; for, in a bill of fare, when the mayor entertained the duke of Norfolk, I met with cranes in a dish.7 In hard winters, elks,8 a kind of wild swan, are seen in no small number; in whom, and not in common swans, is remarkable that strange recurvation of the wind pipe through the sternon-and the same is also observable in cranes.9 It is probable they come very far; for all the northern discoverers have observed them in the remotest parts; and like divers and other northern birds, if the winter be mild, they commonly come no farther southward than Scotland; if very hard, they go lower, and seek more southern places; which is the cause that, sometimes, we see them not before Christmas or the hardest time of winter. A white large and strong-billed fowl, called a ganet, which seems to be the greater sort of larus; whereof I met with one killed by a greyhound, near Swaffham; another in Marshland, while it fought, and would not be forced to take wing: another entangled in a herring-net, which, taken alive, was fed with herrings for a while. It may be named larus major, leucophæopterus; as being white and the top of the wings brown. In hard winters I have also met with that large and strong-billed fowl, which Clusius describeth by the name of skua Hoyeri,2 sent him from the Faro Islands, by Hoierus, a physician; one where of was shot at Hickling, while two thereof were feeding upon a dead horse. As also that large and strong-billed fowl, spotted like a starling, which Clusius nameth mergus major Farrensis,3 7 dish.] Cranes are no longer met with in this country. elks.] Elk; one of the popular names given to the wild swan, A. cygnus. 9 cranes.] Willoughby. 1 ganet.] Pelecanus bassanus, L. 2 skua Hoyeri.] Larus catarractes, L. Skua gull, Latham, Pennant, and Bewick. 3 Lestris catarractes, Temm. mergus major Farrensis.] Dr. Browne's description leaves little doubt that he refers to colymbus glacialis, L. the great northern diver; as frequenting the Faro Islands, seated above Shetland; one whereof I sent unto my worthy friend Dr. Scarburgh. Here is also the pica marina, or sea-pie. Many sorts of lari, sea-mews, and cobs. The larus major,5 in great abundance, in herring time, about Yarmouth. Larus alba or pewits, in such plenty, about Horsey, that they sometimes bring them in carts to Norwich, and sell them at small rates; and the country people make use of their eggs in puddings, and otherwise; great plenty thereof have bred about Scoulton Meers, and from thence sent to London. Larus cinereus, greater and smaller, but a coarse meat, commonly called sterns. Hirundo marina8 or sea-swallow, a neat white and forkedtail bird; but much longer than a swallow. The ciconia or stork, I have seen in the fens; and some have been shot in the marshes between this and Yarmouth. The platea or shovelard, which build upon the tops of high trees. They have formerly built in the Hernery, at Claxton and Reedham ; now at Trimley, in Suffolk. They come in March, and are shot by fowlers, not for their meat, but the handsomeness of the same; remarkable in their white colour, copped crown, and spoon or spatule-like bill. Corvus marinus, cormorants; building at Reedham, upon trees from whence King Charles the First was wont to be though his synonym is not correctly given. It is called by Clusius, colymbus maximus ferroensis, seu arcticus;-by Willoughby, mergus maximus faroensis. 4 pica marina.] Hæmatopus ostralegus, L. The oyster-catcher. 5 larus major.] This name was given long after, by Catesby, to L. atricilla, L. Dr. Browne, quoting from memory, may probably refer to L. fuscus, L. L. cinereus maximus, Will. The wagel gull. 6 larus alba.] Larus ridibundus, L. The pewit gull. 7 larus cinereus.] It seems not very easy to determine the species here referred to :-certainly not the "greater and lesser" stern, sterna hirundo and minuta, the former of which is certainly the bird next mentioned; and neither of which is called the stern, which is sterna fissipes. He may refer to S. minuta and fissipes; or possibly, but not so probably, to L. cinerarius and canus, L. the red-legged and common gulls, L. cinereus major and minor of Aldrovandus. 8 hirundo marina.] Sterna hirundo, L. 9 shovelard.] Platalea leucorodia, L. Spoonbill. 1 corvus marinus.] Pelecanus carbo, L. The cormorant. supplied. Beside the rock cormorant,2 which breedeth in the rocks, in northern countries, and cometh to us in the winter, somewhat differing from the other in largeness and whiteness under the wings. A sea-fowl called a sherewater,3 somewhat billed like a cormorant, but much lesser; a strong and fierce fowl, hovering about ships when they cleanse their fish. Two were kept six weeks, cramming them with fish which they would not feed on of themselves. The seamen told me they had kept them three weeks without meat; and I, giving over to feed them, found they lived sixteen days without taking anything. Bernacles, brants, (branta)4 are common. Sheldrakes. Sheledracus Jonstoni. Barganders, a noble-coloured fowl (vulpanser)5 which herd in coney-burrows about Norrold and other places. Wild geese. Anser ferus.6 Scotch goose. Mergus acutirostris speciosus or loon, a handsome and specious fowl, cristated, and with divided fin feet placed very backward, and after the manner of all such which the Dutch call arsvoote. They have a peculiar formation in the leg bone, which hath a long and sharp process extending above the thigh bone. They come about April, and breed in the broad waters; so making their nest on the water, that their eggs are seldom dry while they are set on. Mergus acutirostris cinereus,9 which seemeth to be a difference of the former. Mergus minor, the smaller divers or dab-chicks, in rivers and broad waters. 2 rock cormorant.] Probably the crested cormorant, thought to be but a variety of the preceding. 3 sherewater.] Procellaria puffinus, L. The shearwater. 4 branta.] Ånas erythropus and bernicla, L. The bernacle and brent goose. 5 vulpanser.] Anas tadorna, L. Vulpanser, Gesner and Aldrov. Sheldrake or burrow duck. "Barganders," the name given this species by Dr. Browne, may possibly be a corruption of burrow-ganders. 6 anser ferus.] Anas anser ferus, L. The grey lag or grey leg. 7 merganser.] Mergus merganser, L. acristated.] Podiceps cristatus, Lath. 9 Colymbus, L. mergus acutirostris cinereus.] Podiceps urinator, Lath. 1 mergus minor.] Podiceps minor, Ib. |