Of the Animals, and particularly the Birds of this country.

Sir Thomas Browne seems to have placed the Spermaceti-Whale among the animals of Norfolk. One of them sixty two feet in length, was taken, as he says, near Wells. Another of the same kind, (he adds) about twenty years after, was caught at Hunstanton; and not far from thence, eight or nine were driven ashore, two of which were said to have young ones, after they had forsaken the water.

The Porpesse, the Dolphin, and the Grampus, are also, by the same writer, numbered among the Norfolk animals. The flesh of the two former, he represents as good food, especially that of the Dolphin, which when well-cooked, he says, is generally allowed to be a good dish. But it is very rarely that one meets with any that have tasted of it.

As to the Common Seal or Sea-Calf, being an amphibious creature, it is not so unnaturally classed among land animals. Numbers of them are often found sleeping on the shore and the sand-banks, below Lynn; while one, as is said, is keeping watch in the meantime, lest his companions be caught napping, and to apprise them of the approach of danger; in which case, they all instantly rush into the deep and disappear.

Otters also are not uncommon in this country. The young ones, says Sir T. Browne, are sometimes, preyed upon by buzzards, having occasionally been found in the nests of these birds. By many persons they are accounted no bad dish, as he says; and he adds, that Otters may be rendered perfectly tame, and in some houses have been known to serve the office of turnspits.

To the foregoing animals may be added Badgers, Hares, and Rabbits. The latter are here more numerous than in most other parts of the kingdom, and yet not so numerous it seems as they have been, owing to modern agricultural improvements. Hares are also in general pretty plentiful here in most places, and the game-laws very strictly enforced, as many a poacher knows to his cost.

The different Species of Birds found in this country, including the water-fowl, are very numerous. The following List includes the chief of them, and is taken mostly from Sir Thomas Browne’s Paper inserted in the 20th volume of the Monthly Magazine. 1. The Sea or Fen Eagle. Some of this species are said to be so large as to measure three yards and a quarter in the extent of their wings, and are capable of being perfectly tamed, and will feed on fish, red herrings, flesh, or any kind of offal. 2. The Osprey, which hovers about the fens, and will dip his claws into the water, and often take up a fish, and likewise catch Coots. It is sometime called the bald-buzzard. 3. The Kite. This species is said not to be very numerous. 4. The Merlin, or Hobby-bird: said to be subject to the vertigo, and sometimes caught in those fits. 5. The Woodchat, or bird-catcher; a small bird of prey about the size of a thrush. 6. The Raven. 7. The Rook. 8. The Jackdaw. 9. The Roller: a very uncommon bird. 10. The Cuckoo. 11, 12, 13, 14. The Green Woodpecker; The greater spotted Woodpecker; The Middle Spotted Woodpecker; and the Nuthatch. 15. The Kingfisher. 16. The Hoopoe, or Hoope-bird, so called from its note. 17, 18, 19. The Skylark, Woodlark, and Titlark. These are very common; but another, called the great crested lark, it seems, is not so. 20. The Stares, or Starlings, are in vast, and almost incredible numbers about the fens, where they roost at night, about the autumn on the reeds and alders, from whence they take their flight in the morning like thick clouds. The rooks, though very numerous in some parts of the kingdom, are never any where seen in such flocks as these birds are about the fens. 21. The Hawfinch. This bird is chiefly seen in summer, about cherry time; and is said to feed on the kernels of cherries and some other kinds of stone fruit; and by means of its amazingly strong bill it breaks the stone without much difficulty. 22. The Waxen Chatterer; which is said to be a very beautiful bird, but now a more uncommon bird than formerly. 23. The Crossbill; is migratory, and arrives about the beginning of Summer. 24. The Gold-finch, otherwise Fools-coat or Draw-water. 25. The Wheatear. These breed in rabbit burrows, and warrens are full of them from April to September. They are caught with a hobby and a net, and are accounted excellent eating. 26. The Goat-sucker, or Dorhawk, so called from the circumstance of its feeding on dors, or beetles. It breeds here and lays a very handsome spotted egg. [It flies about later than most other birds except the owl; and while perching in the evening on a tree, it makes a noise somewhat like the croaking of frogs, or rather the twirling of a spinning wheel, from which it has in some parts been called, The Spinner.] 27. The Bustard. A writer whose signature is X. P. S. in the 20th volume of the Monthly Magazine, says that “the bustards are at this time all extirpated out of Norfolk;” but he is certainly mistaken: they are still to be found in the open parts of the country, but not so frequently as formerly. They become more and more rare; and they will, perhaps, be soon extirpated; but it is not the case yet. The bustard is the largest of British birds, and is remarkable (says Sir Thomas Browne) for the strength of its breast-bone, and for its short heel. It lays two eggs which are much bigger than those of a turkey, as the bustard itself is also larger, as well as handsomer than that bird. It is accounted a dainty dish, and those who have eaten it, speak much in its praise. This famous bird seems incapable of being tamed or domesticated. [196] 28. and 29. Black and Red game, now unknown here. Some of the latter, or grouse, were found, it seems, about Lynn, in Sir Thomas Browne’s time. 30. 31. Partridge and Quail are here in great numbers. 32. The Corncrake, or Rayle is also commonly found here. 33. The Spoonbill, now but seldom found here, though formerly, it seems, pretty common. 34. The Crane, was formerly common here, but now scarcely deemed a British bird. 35. The White Stork, now rarely seen, though formerly not so uncommon a bird. 36. The Heron still abounds here. 37. The Bittern, or Bitour, is also very common: both this and the preceding are deemed good dishes. 38. The Godwit or Yarwhelp, is very common in Marshland, and deemed a dainty dish. It frequents the sea shore and salt marshes in winter, and the fens and interior parts in summer. 39. 40. The Redshank, and Curlew, are not unfrequent in the marshes and about the sea coast. 41. The Gnat or Knot. This is a small bird, but is at times very fat, and in much request for the table. They are caught with nets. 42. The Lapwing is common here on all the heaths, and in other parts. 43. The Ruff: so called from the feathers of the neck projecting like a ruff. This is a marsh bird, and varies greatly in its colours; no two of them are found alike. The female is smaller than the male, has no ruff about the neck, and is called a Reeve. It is very seldom seen. The males when put together will fight most bloodily and destroy each other. They lose their ruffs towards the end of autumn, or beginning of winter. They are very handsome birds. 44. The Dotterel, is a bird of passage; comes in September and March, and is accounted excellent eating. 45. King Dotterel, or Fen Dotterel: somewhat less, but better coloured than the former. 46. The Stone Curlew, is a tall handsome bird, remarkably eyed. It is said to be so common in this country, as to have the name of the Norfolk plover. 47. The Avoset, or skooping horn, is a tall, black and white bird, with a bill semicircularly bent upwards. It is a summer bird, and not unfrequent in Marshland. 48. The Oyster Catcher or Sea-pie. 49. The Common Coote. These birds are frequently observed in great flocks on broad waters, said to be remarkable for their dexterous-defence of themselves and young, against kites and buzzards. 50. 51. The Moor, or Water-hen, and Water-Raile. 52. The Wild Swan, or Elke. It is probable they come from great distances, for all the northern travellers are said to have observed them in the remotest parts. Like other northern birds, if the winter be mild they usually come no further south than Scotland, if very hard they proceed onward till they arrive in a country sufficiently warm. 53. 54. 55. Barnacle-goose, Brent-goose, and Sheldrake. The two former are common; and the latter pretty much so, especially about Norrold, where they are said to breed in rabbit-burrows. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. The Shoveler, Pintail, or Sea-pheasant, Garganey, or Teal, Wild-goose, and Gosander, or Mirganser, are all found in this country. 61. The Dun-diver, or Saw billed diver. It is bigger than a duck; and distinguished from other divers by a remarkable sawed bill to retain its slippery prey, which consists principally of eels. 62. The Snew, as well as the Widgeons, and other species of wild ducks, are very common. [199] 63. The Puffin, has a remarkable bill, which differs from that of a duck in being formed not horizontally but vertically, for the purpose of feeding in clefts of rocks, on shellfish, &c. 64. The Shear-water, somewhat billed like a cormorant, but much smaller, is a strong and fierce bird, that hovers about ships when the sailors cleanse their fish, &c. They will live some weeks without food. 65. The Gannet, is a large, white, strong billed bird: Sir Thomas Browne saw one of them in Marshland, which fought, and would not be forced to take wing. Another he saw taken alive, and for sometime kept and fed with herrings. 66. 67. The Shag and Cormorant, are generally confounded by the country people. The former builds upon trees, and the latter only in the rocks. 68. The Northern-Diver. 69. The Great Crested Grebe, appear about April, and breed on the broad waters. Their nest is formed of weed &c. and float on the water, so that their eggs are seldom dry while they are set on. 70. The little Grebe, small diver or Dabchick, is found in the rivers and broad waters here. 71. The Skua Gull, is sometimes found here in very hard winters. 72. The Herring Gull, is found here, but more commonly about Yarmouth. 73. The Black-headed Gull, is here very plentiful. The eggs are used by the country people in puddings, and otherwise. The birds are sometimes brought to the markets in great number, and even sent to London. 74. The Greater Fern, or Sea Swallow, is a neat white and fork-tailed bird, but much larger than a swallow. 75. The May Chitt, is a small dark-grey bird. It comes in great plenty into Marshland in May, and stays about a month, seldom beyond six weeks. It is fatter than most birds of its size, and accounted excellent eating. 76. The Churre, another small bird, is frequently taken among the preceding. 77. The Whinne bird, is marked with five yellow spots, and is less than a wren. 78. The Chipper. This somewhat resembles the former; comes here in the spring, and feeds on the first buddings of birches and other early trees.—To all these may be added, 79. The Nightingale, which is here a constant visitor. 80. 81. 82. The Swallow, Martin, and Swift. Also a variety of Finches, and likewise of Diving-Fowl, mustela fusca, and mustela variegata, so called from the resemblance they have to the head of a weesel.—Stockdoves, or wild pigeons, are here found in great numbers; and so are Pheasants, Snipes, and Woodcocks. [200] The Magpie likewise and the Owl are found among the birds of this country.—Not to mention the Blackbird, the Thrush, the Yellow-hammer, the Wagtail, the Titmouse, the Sparrow, the Wren, the Redbreast, and others that are common to most parts of this kingdom.

Many rare plants are said to be found in some parts of this country; but as no good botanist is known to reside here, or to have drawn up a catalogue of them, they cannot be now enumerated. The neighbourhood of East Winch is thought to be one very good spot for botanizing.

Section VI.

Brief account of places before omitted, in the vicinity of Lynn, on this eastern side of the Ouse—Sechey—Runcton—Downham—Denver—Helgay—Southery—Feltwell—Methwold—Stoke, &c. Feltwell New-Fen-District—Fincham—Swaffham—Babingley—Sharnborne—Great Malthouse—Hunston light-house, &c.