iilinnt ¡11 tin- ditches round the churchyard nt Poller Heigham and the adjoining marshes, where stagnant
pools wen to lie round. Under the name of " Jack-o'-Iiinlerns," these extraordinary visions were reported to
bo still common in many parts of tin- low-lying Hats of Kent and Susses, where reeds and rushes have nourished
for HMny years. The decomposition of the roots and stalks of the wuter-planfs is supposed to account for the
fantastic vapour that Hitters about and often puzzles the natives of marshy districts.
Many n a n ago I retueinlier the gamekeepers and lookers over the marshes in Fevcusey Level, to which our
shooting extended when living at Catsfield in the east of Susses, relating wonderful stories about these
mysterious vapours. "The Jaek-o'-Lantems," as they were called in Ibis district, were repotted to lie
frequently seen about some of the slades and shallow pools in soft parts of the marshes in the Level, ami also
nt two or three of the pells ' near the river and adjoining the shingle-banks,
A few oí these flickering lights were also stated to have been recognized hovering around the moist «pota
and the pools near the banks of a nice little trout-si ream that bordered a large stretch of land covered with
furze bu-hes, known as the " hortbj' " field, and affording cover for immense numbers of rabbits. This wild and
unreclaimed extent of useless ground has now undergone a great transformation. 1 also ascertained that a
bright, luminous, flickering light was exhibited by fresh-caught whiting, when cut up for feeding our captive
Gnmiets and Guillemots: this we learned at a small village in Canty Bay, while providing for the young birds
brought from the Bass Hock and reared in the boat-sheds ; when our charges were visited after dark, their
stock of prn\ isious at traded at teat ¡un as soon as the door of the shed was opened. The rays of the glittering
shine that easts such a lustre around the herrings used as bait for the traps that protect the nests and eggs
WB wish to preserve from the depredations of any predacious vermin arc very attractive.
Un the 2üth of Juno four very handsome glossy eggs were taken otf Hush Hills, and these arc the clutch
depicted in the Plate. The eggs of another nest were removed a week later from the same piece of ground, as
there was but little doubt they would have been taken on such an exposed spot. These I placed in the nest of
a Partridge well concealed in long grass, on a marsh in a quiet part that was seldom visited, in hopes the young
birds might he batched. The old bird performed her dulíes well, sitting closely, and the downy juveniles would
soon have BEAN out, when a donkey, turned out to pick up his living on the marsh, trampled on the neat and
broke most of the eggs. The Hi-eve belonging to the last-mentioned nest was shot and sent to be preserved,
as 1 imagined it was too late in the season to expect her to lay again.
There is an entry in ray notes for 1871, while again at Potter Ileigham and watching Hiekling Broad, that
the lirst arrival occurred on the 11th of April. On the 17th. the weather cold aad stormy, 1 was out ou the
Broad in the punt, and while carefully inspecting the most likely parts of Swimcoats, ¡n order to ascertain if
any Huffs were about, a flock of nearly one hundred came rapidly in sight, making straight towards the hill, on
n Inch they alighted after swi-eping round two or three times. ItmTs and Booeea were in about equal numbers,
and sculling the punt up under the shelter of the bank, I bad a capital chance of examining them through tho
glasses, as they were not fifty yards from where our punt was brought up. There wen1 Bulfs of all colours,
but none had above half assumed the full plumage; aud as I only required a bird In perfect plumage, I thought
thai if left unmolested they would remain on these hills round the llroad and in due course improve in appeuraui'o.
This I discovered to be a mistaken idea, as the large flocks only stopped a few days while on their way to more
northern breeding-stations, and then took their departure. The few that remained in the district with tho
Bar/Tea were not seen till later on in the season, and came singly or in very small parties of two or three,
tin the 10th again found the Bulfs, on Bush IlilB, aud their numbers were augmented by about a score that
Win passing over, which, being attracted by the swarm ou the hill, darted down and settled close at hand.
There was one Buff with a while head and a black frUl that looked very peculiar, and this bird I intended to
shoot; hut unfortunately he got into the midst of tho others, and I was nut able to distinguish him again.
• The Ku.nri MM for flic nmnll pool» to watt « litth' suit water fnctwtt*.
HUFF. 3
Down at Hiekling llroad before daylight on the 27th, and a man at work on the north side of the water informed
us that two Buffs and a Reeve had just pitched on Bu-li II ills. We sculled all round the hill, but were unable
to catch sight of them ; then turning the punt we prepared to cross to Swimcoats, when a Buff passed and
alighted near (be point of Hush Hills which we bad just left. It Would have been easy to get within twenty
yards, as he had dropped down among sonic siuaU patches of rushes, hut three Swans swimming ahead of our
boat alarmed him, and rising on wing he (lew about a hundred yards further along the side of the bill. As lie
did not, however, seem to be out of range from the water, we made another attempt, ami sculling in ;is close as
possible, I stood up and cautiously inspected the ground beyond the bank. The bird was standing quietly on the
look-out at the distance of about fifty yards, and as he sprung from the ground 1 tired, when his wing was
broken, and little trouble was given in securing him, owing to the scarcity of thick cover on this part OR the
hill. On nomination it was ascertained that ho had attained very good plumage, the ruff being of a dark red
tint striped with black, the whole having n glossy metallic shade not unlike the colouring of a cock Pheasant.
As this proved to lie the handsomest specimen I obtained, he is represented in one of the Plates.
On the Sth of September, while In the punt on Breydon, I shot a BulT that was feeding on the side of the
channel near the Lumps; the following day an immature Bull, a bird of the year, was shot in Bessie's drain.
The " dominion " were then put out, and a Buff and Bcevc settled down to them; I did not, however, molest
them, and they remained an hour and a half before they took their departure. There were a great number of
Bulfs and Beeves on the 18th, nud several were obtained. Capital s|K>rl was bad with the young Grey Plover
ou the 2olh of the month, and about half a dozen good shots with the big gun were made. Several Hull's were
also obtained, one of which was a most remarkable lord, coloured very strongly with rul'uus lints about tho
neck and breast.
During the cold wintry weather in December 1S71, when the Broad was " laid" with ice *. Xuil (the Hiekling
keeper) saw a bird he believed to lie a Huff, but was of opinion that this species is only to Is- observed in this
country during spring, summer, and autumn. I am aware it is unusual to liud them during winter; they do,
howei er, occasionally p'LF ill an appearance, as when -ho >i ing on Pevcti-ey Level in I leecnibcr. Is*1.), two were
obtained a few days before the end of the month. Immense numbers of Wildfowl were then in that district,
aud in most instances fell easy victims, being weakened and worn out by exposure to the long-continued
severity of the weather.
While working at our boat-house in the Ileigham corner of Hiekling Broad on flic ISth uf October, 1RS1, I
noticed a Bun" and a couple of Peew its circle round and settle down on the south point of Swtmcouls: the big gun
was not on board, so the large punt worked easily aud I sculled rapidly across ; luckily the birds proved utterly
unsuspicious of danger, and the three were turned over by the two barrels of my UMiore breechloader. The
Buff weighed S or., and exhibited the usual brown mottled plumage of autumn : the upper inaudible was
almost black, the lower a llesh tint near the base and pale born at the point ; the legs a light olive-brown,
with a yellow tinge about the joints and on the toes. For the next few days there were uumliers of Bulfs aud
Beeves al>out Bush Hills, and several were obtained, all being easily approached when feeding on the slades
within reach of the wafer, w here the punt could be worked. This species usually holds a great reputation for
the table, ami these proved quite equal, if not superior, to Snipes and Plovers.
While shooting on Breydon on the 88th of August, 1S72, I noticed a nulf reeding on the flats near the
Lower Drain with a flock of Dunlins. They proved restless, and would not allow the punt withfaldistance]
later in the day, however, they flew past within thirty yards, when the Bun fell to the shoulder-gun together
with over a score I>R his small companions, lie turned out to he an exceedingly large specimen, of course now
in his autumn plumage.
On the 3rd of September, after the dummies had been put out ou the Lumps, a Reeve was attracted and
• Tit unlive* of Hi., mm of Sorfolk ihu. mmk of tint llr.mJ rata H i> from, area