Page:VCH Norfolk 1.djvu/275

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BIRDS in that long-neglected neighbourhood ; the last nest in Norfolk was taken near Sutton Broad in 1858. This species is now only known to us as a somewhat rare passing migrant. 262. White-winged Black Tern. Hydro- chelidon leucoptera (Schinz). The first English specimen of the white- winged black tern was killed at Horsey in May, 1853; since that time several have occurred on that side of the county, chiefly in May and June, and one in August. 263. Whiskered Tern. Hydrochelidon hybr'tda (Pallas). The rare whiskered tern has only twice been obtained here, the first at Hickling Broad in June, 1847, *he second near Dersingham in October, 1890. 264. Gull-billed Tern. Sterna anglica, Mont. Nine of these birds have been killed near Yarmouth at different times between the end of May and September. 265. Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia, Pallas. The Caspian tern has been met with here nine times, all near Yarmouth between the months of May and October. 266. Sandwich Tern. Sterna cantiaca, Gme- lin. The Sandwich tern has always been re- garded here as a rare spring or summer visitor ; but in October, 1891, five were killed, and in September, 1893, seventeen, all at Cley, where two pairs are believed to have bred in that year. 267. Roseate Tern. Sterna douga/Ii, Mon- tagu. This bird has been killed on two occasions on our coast and seen several times ; there is every reason to believe that one or two pairs have nested here more than once. 268. Common Tern. Sterna Jluviatilis, Nau- mann. The common tern had reached a very low ebb as a breeder in Norfolk, where it was once a very numerous species, but judicious protection has worked wonders in at least one favoured locality. All the terns are called ' dars ' or ' pearls.' This is the ' big pearl ' of the natives. 269. Arctic Tern. Sterna macrura^ Nau- mann. The Arctic tern visits us in the summer and young birds later on, but it has never been proved to breed here. 270. Little Tern. Sterna minuta, Linn. The elegant little tern, once so numerous, is now sadly reduced in numbers, but a few nests are still to be seen. It is known as the 'chit-pearl.' I have also heard it called by the name of ' dip-ears.' 271. Sabine's Gull. Xema sabinii (J. Sabine). Two specimens of this rare gull were killed on Breydon in October, 1 88 1, since that time four others have been obtained on the coast, all in the month of October, and in immature plumage. 272. Little Gull. Larus minutus, Pallas. This is a fairly constant visitor to our coast, generally in the late autumn. Sometimes considerable numbers are met with, as in February, 1870, when after a severe gale from the east over sixty, mostly in adult plumage, were killed on the Norfolk coast. On April 2nd, 1888, a little gull in lovely breeding plumage was killed on Hickling Broad, a second was seen but not obtained. 273. Black-headed or Brown-headed Gull. Larus ridibundus, Linn. This is our most common species at all seasons, and there are two large breeding- places, Scoulton and Hoveton, in Norfolk, other breeding places formerly existed. 274. Mediterranean Black - headed Gull. Larus melanocepha/us, Natterer. An adult male was killed on December 26th, 1886, on Breydon. The first fully authenticated British specimen. 275. Common Gull. Larus canus, Linn. The common gull is really common at all seasons, especially in autumn. 276. Herring-Gull. Larus argentatus, GmeVin, This is a common species here, especially in immature plumage. 277. Yellow - legged Herring- Gull. Larus cachinnans, Pallas. A single specimen of this species, a male by dissection, was killed on Breydon on Novem- ber 4th, 1886. It remained unrecorded till 1897 (cf. Zoologist, 1897, p. 572). Mr. Howard Saunders was good enough to confirm the determination of the bird. 278. Lesser Black - backed Gull. Larus fuscus, Linn. The lesser black-backed gull is common at all seasons, especially in immature plumage. 243