318 BIRDS OF NORFOLE. 
on the previous night, 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. JI 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 Tringe were filling the air with 
their incessant whistlings, 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 which 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, 
T could distinguish stray dunlins by their notes, as if 
