BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 69 



him without the least hesitation. This often goes on 

 for some time, and the flock usually returns to the 

 same place from which it rose. It is, I think, 

 quite certain that the leader must communicate 

 with the flock before a sudden movement is executed, 

 although the note is so low as to be inaudible to 

 the observer, otherwise it would be almost impos- 

 sible for them to turn so abruptly without warning. 



The fine weather of March proved very deceptive, 

 however, as on April 4th by which date the Golden 

 Plover, Curlew, Redshank, and Black-headed Gull 

 had all arrived on the moors a severe snowstorm 

 commenced, and lasted for fully a week. No 

 ordinary spring snowstorm was this, but a regular 

 mid-winter blizzard, covering the ground with an 

 average depth of 6 inches of snow, and piling up 

 wreaths behind the dykes fully 6 feet in depth. 



I have good reason to remember this storm, as I 

 started out on the wildest day for a remote glen 

 some twenty miles distant. On the low grounds the 

 snow was of little depth, but gradually immense 

 wreaths were encountered, and the snow was 

 drifted along the ground in blinding clouds. 

 Soon an intense frost set in, which froze the 

 cycle tyres to the mud-guards, and thus rendered 

 progress almost impossible. However, after a five- 

 hours' ride or, rather, walk my destination was 

 reached. 



What sufferings did the Golden Plover undergo 

 during this storm ! All the landscape was shrouded 

 in spotless white, and immense flocks of Curlew, 

 Lapwing, and Golden Plover could be seen vainly 

 searching for food. After a few days they were 

 so weak from want of nourishment that they were 

 scarcely able to utter their call notes. Just before 



