244 IN BIRD-LAND 



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" beat," leaving the others overhead to fight for the 

 possession of the prize. Several attempts were 

 made by the aggressive bird to snatch the fish 

 from the other's beak ; but by a strong effort the 

 fish was at length swallowed and the two returned 

 to look for more, apparently as amicable as they 

 were before the contest began. Soon afterwards 

 three Gulls flew out to sea, leaving only one to go 

 over the course, this probably being the one which 

 had the coveted fish : for each time it came to 

 the spot where the great "find" had occurred, 

 it hovered over the water watching intently and 

 hoping for a second success. The manner in 

 which the Gull moved its wings and dropped on 

 to anything eatable reminded one of the Kestrel. 



One of the features of night in the land of the 

 Broads is the chorus of Warblers, which may be 

 heard. There are three kinds to be met with the 

 Sedge, the Reed, and the Grasshopper-Warblers. 

 Most conspicuous among these is the loud song ot 

 the first-named, and any one who listens to the 

 notes would think that a number of garrulous birds 

 were holding .a council, the imitative little bird 

 being capable of reproducing the notes of many 

 other species. While listening to its song on a 

 certain evening, I recognised the call-note of the 

 Swallow, the pink, pink> of the Chaffinch, the 



