Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/497

Rh still luminous. After a little, thinking the early morning flight home of the birds was now over, I rose to go. As I walked off the Plovers all rose from the heath, and I was astonished at their numbers. They flew round several times in a wide circle, and as they gradually, from the great cloud they had at first formed, spread out into something more resembling a line, I was enabled to count a considerable number of them. I counted 117, irrespective of a large section which separated itself from the rest and flew off to the amphitheatre, so grouped that I was unable to count them. The number of these last must, I should say, at least, have made up the balance of another hundred, which would make, as a minimum, 200 of them. But, I believe, they were more numerous—perhaps from 250 to 300 in all. I must have missed a great many in this rough counting, and the number that went off looked very great. At any rate, counting those that were certainly on the amphitheatre at this time, the whole flock cannot, I think, be much below 300.

On getting to my post at the amphitheatre I found, as I expected, that the birds had gone down there, for they rose again in another great flock, and again went down. At this same time (6) a small flock of Peewits swept over the barren ground between here and the river, and went down upon it.

At 6.35 a larger flock appeared, and began to sweep, circling around at a great height, uttering their cry. Noticed two of them chasing each other, apparently in sport.

7 o'clock.—Numbers of Peewits sailing about high up, and mingled with them a flock of Starlings. Two Peewits often chase each other, and there is, sometimes, in a sudden dip down and curve up again, a trace of the aërial evolutions of the spring. They "faintly imitate" them, as Gibbon might say. Peewits and Starlings spread over the open space, searching about (apparently) for food, though it is difficult to think what, exactly, they get on such arid, barren ground. One Peewit will often rise from the ground and fly at another one near, who will then also rise, and the two will pursue each other a little, when, as if by mutual consent, both will desist, and go on feeding as before. The Starlings seem to enjoy the company of the Peewits. When these fly off, they go with them; and I have noted the flock of Starlings mingled and flying with the flock of Peewits (each almost, if not quite, as