1917] The Ottawa Naturalist 31 



of the coast of Nova Scotia, but not far enough to seriously affect their 

 regular route to Argentina, in which country they escape the hardship 

 of a Canadian winter. 



It is well known that some species of migrating birds when 

 passing over large bodies of water in daytime, fly quite low, often 

 skimming the very surface, but when flying over large tracts of land, 

 they fly at a great height. In this connection it may not be amiss to 

 detail some personal field experience on this interesting phase of bird 

 life and conduct. About May 20th in each year small flocks of Ruddy 

 Turnstones begin to arrive in this northern country from the sunny 

 south. By the end of the first week in June the shores of many of the 

 Islands adjacent to the city of Kingston present scenes of life and 

 activity well worth travelling many miles to witness. On two distinct 

 occasions the writer had the unusual good fortune to be privileged to 

 witness the departure of this gathering of birds for a place situated 

 farther north where their breeding grounds were located. Towards 

 evening a sudden commotion occurred among the birds, and with a 

 movment born of common impulse, all formed into one large flock, and 

 after taking a short flight which looked like a farewell survey of their 

 Location, they moved upwards in a great circle. With the aid of 

 glasses it was possible to follow- their flight, and see them setting their 

 course due north, pursuing it high above the land surface far beyond 

 the scope of the naked eye. 



Another striking example of this nature occurred late in the month 

 of October, 1916. A bleak north wind was blowing with frequent 

 showers of rain. Towards noon a flock of Tree Swallows suddenly 

 came twittering down out of the sky from a great height descending 

 from the rain-laden clouds. The straggling flock looked like dead 

 leaves blown, about by an autumn gale. The flock settled on some 

 trees on the lake shore, and by crowding and huddling together they 

 completely covered the branches. Some settled in the grass under the 

 trees. So exhaustd was the entire flock that a near approach was 

 - permitted without alarm or apparent concern. In the afternoon, they 

 quietly left their resting place, and flying low over a pasture field, 

 began to gyrate in a great circle, their spiral ascent carrying them 

 higher and higher until they faded beyond the range of human vision. 



Returning to the subject of the Golden Plover, on August 28th, 

 1915, a few were noted and in 1916 on the same date, a more extensive 

 visitation occurred. Rev. C. J. Young observed some of these birds 

 on the sand beach at Brighton, Ont. The writer saw eighty or more 

 at Amherst Island, Ont., and several small flocks were seen at Wolfe 

 Island, Ont. August and September this year will be watched with 

 great interest for more interesting developments in connection with the 

 Golden Plover's visits and sojourn in eastern Ontario. 



