Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/499

Rh a little, both the birds crouched and lay flat along the ground (a desert scene, one had the Sahara), one in the sun, another in slight shade. The latter, though in full view, became at once almost invisible, so that, when I took my eyes off him, I found it difficult to find him again. In a minute or two this one got up, and, making two or three short little runs forward, picked up something from the ground and swallowed it—what, I could not see. Both were now on their legs, and very shortly flew back to where they had come from.

Peewits circling about in the sky singly, or, if they can be called "together," yet very widely spread out, and occupying a great area.

Peewits not nearly so much en évidence this morning.

One Peewit makes a little run forward up to another, and stands by, or rather over him, with both wings lifted above back to fullest height—brandished, as it were.

7.25.—Most of the Peewits rise and fly away (going in direction of the fens), but it is two or three minutes before the cattle appear, driven slowly towards the plateau, and then across it.

As they get nearer a few other Peewits fly after the first. Finally all the birds arise, the rest of the Peewits following their companions, the Plovers flying over bracken to the moor. Of these latter I count thirty-seven.

September 29th, 1899.—Leaving home, when crescent moon and stars were brightly shining (calm and still, sky clear, but slight mist over earth), walked to the bank, and, before taking up my station, purposely went all over just that part of the heath where the birds assemble (to the number of two hundred or three hundred). I did not put up any bird. At 4.10 took my place on the bracken-covered part of the bank, having now several times heard the ground-note of the Plovers. Probably on the arable land around; I had put up none whilst walking over the heath to the bank.

4.15.—Trumpet of a Pheasant.

4.30.— Several Pheasants trumpet.

4.50.—Cry of Great Plover close, on ground, and first one flies over bank. I hear it only—the wings. It makes no cry. Now keep hearing ground-cry of Plovers close, as if they were walking to their place.