88 Alexander Goodman More. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



EXPLORATION NEAR HOME. 



[18570 



THE next year (1857) passed over very quietly, the days 

 being, in fact, almost wholly devoted to studying botany 

 in the Isle of Wight, while the summer nights were largely 

 dedicated to entomology. There were, however, certain 

 seasons when it was out of the question to neglect the 

 birds : particularly the periods of spring and autumn 

 passage. 



" May 8th. Determined to try for some Grallse, so set 

 off with the rising tide. On rowing across to Carpenter's 

 Creek, I soon caught sight of the Whimbrels, but, as the 

 wind was driving the boat nicely along shore, I thought to 

 make sure of not passing anything else, and on nearing 

 the point, there sure enough was a most remarkable 

 bird black and white ; black beneath, white-headed, and 

 light-backed. How lovely he looked in the bright sun, 

 running along the grassy water-side. A prize indeed : 

 I suspected already, the Grey Plover in summer plumage. 

 The boat drove on before the wind, I crouching low, when, 

 just as within-gunshot, he ran and was hidden behind a 

 rising bit of ground. I sprang up so did he. Instantly 

 bang, and away he went, wild and in vigorous flight. 

 How I watched him, and then lost sight of him toward 

 Gravelly ! What an eager row across ! What anxiety 

 when a countryman walked along and stopped close to 

 the spot ; methought he had picked up the bird ! Nearer, 

 and I descry a dark object on the shingle; it moves it is 

 he ! I drop the oars, and crouch close, with the gun just 

 ready over the bow. Presently, the bird got restless and 

 ran to the top of the gravel, where he reared himself up 

 a magnificent sight clear against the sky. Now is the 

 time: bang, and he gives one last leap into the air he is 



