328 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



females. That this is not always the case is seen 

 from the photograph, wherein the sitting hen is 

 shown to be but slightly spotted on the breast. 



In autumn the Golden Plovers which have been 

 bred on the moors congregate in large flocks and 

 descend to the sea-coasts. At this period many 

 migrate, and vast numbers in lines extending for 

 several miles, have been seen passing over Spurn 

 Point on the east coast. 



In common with the Golden Plover, the Curlew 

 visits these heatherv dales in the nesting season, de- 

 parting again to the mud-flats and saltings as winter 

 draws near. In the early morning its wild cry may 

 be heard as it rises from some rush-grown morass 

 far out on the moor. Ever the wariest of birds, it 

 flies in wide circles around the intruder, uttering its 

 mournful notes, but rarely permitting itself to 

 approach within gun-shot. Often when fishing the 

 hill-lochs in Sutherland, I have watched it stand- 

 ing upon some distant eminence, its brown barred 

 form and long curved bill silhouetted against the 

 sky; here it would remain for long spaces of time, 

 sometimes wandering a little distance away and 

 bending to pick sometiiing from the heather, but 

 always returning to the coign of vantage wherefrom 

 its vigilant eye could follow the disturber of its 

 haunts. 



In the ravine behind the fir trees, where. the little 

 stream takes its way amidst the boulders and 

 bracken, a dark bird, resembling a blackbird, save 

 for the white crescent upon its breast, may be 



