Page:The Zoologist, 4th series, vol 4 (1900).djvu/503

Rh bank, where I concealed myself as on former occasions. The birds that would now pass by me would be flying towards the river (north), and it would be as difficult for me to see those flying in an opposite direction (as yesterday) as it would, yesterday, to have seen these. The birds were never, now, between me and the light of the sky.

5.40.—First cry of the birds—faint and undecided.

5.45.—Note again heard, and soon swelled into the full wailing chorus, repeated from one part of the heath to another.

5.50.—Birds began to pass me, flying towards the river.

6.10.—Last note heard from the assembly-place, though heard it twice later from other parts (at 6.13 and 6.15).

I counted twenty-nine birds fly past me, but no doubt missed many in the gloom. The birds therefore got off this evening in about twenty minutes.

October 8th.—Walked up the road again this evening, and sat down just as before, but a little higher up (more to the landward side of the birds, and farther from the river) at 5.45.

On account perhaps of the fineness of the day—it was, I think, a little lighter than on previous evenings—there was no cry of the birds at this time, or at 5.50 (but, being a little farther off, I might not have heard a very slight cry).

5.53.—Heard the first note (I think) slightly uttered.

5.54.—First full decided cry.

5.58.—Note becoming constant, rising and sinking (nothing, however, compared to the evening of Oct. 5th).

6.3.— Two birds fly by me to the left, away from river (south). Hear note of others (or one other) flying on my right (riverside) hand, but quite near (north).

Then came three (right hand, near, north), and at 6.8 three, and then one on left hand (south).

Cry always continuing, but not very marked this evening.

6.12.—Cry has ceased. Recommences in few seconds, but soon subsides, and shortly recommences again, and again subsides.

6.15.—Silence.

6.16.—One bird flies by, left hand leaving river (north). I now left, and whilst walking down the road did not again hear the cry of the birds.