378 BIRDS OF NORFOLK:. 



on the previous niglit, and, with others, was probably 

 driven inland by the storm a distance of some twenty 

 miles. Another was shot in the meadows at Hellesdon, 

 near Norwich, in January, 1864. 



That these birds pass over this city on their 

 nocturnal passage in autumn, as before stated of the 

 golden plovers and lapwings, I feel certain from the 

 notes I have been able to distinguish at times, 

 either of single birds calling to their companions, 

 or of small parties apparently mingled with other 

 species. The most marked instance, however, of this, 

 in my own experience, occurred on the 18th of August, 

 1869, when I was awakened about two o'clock in 

 the morning by the noise of birds, apparently pursuing 

 a direct course over the house-tops, from east to 

 west. On opening my window the sky looked bright 

 and starlight, not dark and stormy as is commonly the 

 case on such occasions, and the flight, at no great eleva- 

 tion, was still passing, although, as was soon apparent, 

 the rearguard was close at hand. I remember being 

 aware of some disturbing sound, before I became suffi- 

 ciently aroused to detect the cause, and can, therefore, 

 form no correct idea of the time occupied by this 

 clamorous host, in passing over my house and garden. 

 To the westward, as far as the ear could detect their 

 cries, myriads of small Tringce were filling the air with 

 their incessant whistlmgs, and the impression on my 

 own mind at the time was that the old birds were 

 calling to keep the young ones together, and that the 

 latter, answering in low murmuring notes, occasioned the 

 confused sound wliich in a remarkable manner marked 

 the passage of these migrants. Now and then I detected 

 the cry of the redshank, but always singly and apart 

 from the main body, accompanying but not joining 

 their forces; and, in like manner, apart from the rest, 

 I could distinguish stray dunlins by their notes, as if 



