168 MEMORIAL TRIBUTE 



Being very intent on tapping the mud, they allowed 

 me to approach within ten paces, so that I could see 

 them very distinctly. I was surprised to hear from 

 them a very gentle warble, which was composed of 

 feeble notes somewhat resembling the syllables pee- 

 pee-pee, continually repeated, and with more frequency 

 when the individuals came very near each other. 

 These notes could not be heard at a greater distance 

 than twenty yards, and would thus be entirely lost to 

 the casual observer. All at once I heard a singular 

 noise, which might be likened to a cough, shrill and 

 feeble as it was, and presently found that it came from 

 one which, having picked up something too large for its 

 gullet, stood endeavouring to swallow it by repeated 

 jerks, at each of which it emitted a sharp wheezing or 

 hissing sound. The rest paid no attention to the 

 distressed bird, which in about three minutes got the 

 morsel down, and resumed its search. While thus 

 busily employed, and quite regardless of me, although 

 so near that I could see their little dusky eyes, and dis- 

 tinguish by its tints one individual from another, a sand- 

 piper, Totanus hypoleucos, came silently gliding over 

 them at the height of not more than three feet. It was 

 beautiful to see how they all rose simultaneously on wing 

 to the height of from two to four feet, and, finding that 

 they had no cause of alarm, immediately re-alight. I now 

 struck my note-book against my hand, when they all 

 rose, but alighted about five yards off, and three of them 

 came within ten paces of me. As nothing more was 

 to be seen, I examined the marks made by them in 



