BIRD NOTES 125 



There was, after continuous heavy rains, a great 

 deal of water on the marshes in December 1901. A 

 great many drowned worms laid at the margin and 

 in the shallows. Golden Plovers and Lapwings 

 became very numerous in the neighbourhood, drawn 

 there by the plentiful supply of food. I am con- 

 vinced that if individuals are incapable of conveying 

 news information, in fact to their relatives, there 

 must be many flights of birds passing and repassing 

 in the dark hours, and that they are gifted with 

 some instinct unknown to us, that directs their flight 

 to places where food is in plenty. Whether seen to 

 come or not, they do come, as I have in more than 

 one instance pointed out. A sacred writer long ago 

 declared that " where the carcass is, thither will the 

 eagles be gathered together." At the period above 

 referred to, I noted the dropping in of Fieldfares to 

 share at the waterside the plentiful feast so unex- 

 pectedly provided. They mixed freely with the 

 waders. 



STRANGE COMPANIONSHIPS 



One of my earliest recollections is of a queer case of 

 companionship between a Lapwing and a Brahma 

 hen. The " pewit " had been wing- tipped and turned 



