BIRD NOTES 65 



me, managed to crawl within a short distance of the 

 unsuspecting bird. From behind a furze bush that 

 I managed to reach unobserved, I had a good look 

 at him. A number of grasshoppers skipped merrily 

 around me ; and I found it was in quest of this very 

 insect the Rook had come. I could not only quite 

 easily observe him snatch at and capture the grass- 

 hoppers, a lively performance, in all conscience, 

 but I could also see that a portion of his bill had 

 been shot away. This seemed not in the least to 

 inconvenience him. I could almost imagine there 

 was a gleam of satisfaction in his beady eye at 

 falling in luck's way, and in having a feast all to 

 himself. 



The gathering together of a large number of birds 

 of the same species where suitable food has un- 

 expectedly and abundantly turned up, convinces me 

 that not only do individual birds possess remarkably 

 keen sight, but that a means of communication 

 exists among them. A rough easterly sea had 

 thrown on to the north beach a quantity of live 

 razor shells (Solar ensis). The gathering of gulls 

 that mustered as soon as the coast was clear afforded 

 a lively and interesting sight. So long as the supply 

 lasted they did not disperse. 

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