Birds by Land and Sea 



afterwards to perform increasingly vast circles on 

 the wing at a moderate height, reminding one of 

 a horse galloping round a set course. We watched 

 it for nearly half an hour beating round silently 

 and at full pace in immense circles, having for 

 centre the spot from which it had risen. Upon 

 our giving it a chance to descend, it came down to 

 the water again, forging along at a great speed, and 

 re-entering the reed-bed. 



But I recall this quiet sheet of water under its 

 twilight aspect rather than as seen during the day. 

 For it was our custom, after the day's work, to climb 

 the hill and, sitting beside the water, to enjoy the 

 perfect peace of the spot. This was rendered only 

 more intense by the frequent humming of snipe, 

 who became particularly energetic at the twilight 

 hour, and continued their exercises until it was no 

 longer possible to pick them out from the darkening 

 sky. It was more than ever evident, under such 

 circumstances, how hard it is to locate a snipe by its 

 note. Bats played backward and forward, coasting 

 the bushes and trees which overhung the water, and 

 stopping when they met to toy with one another ere 

 they dashed off again each his own way on rapid, 

 noiseless wings. From time to time a partridge, 

 advancing to the edge of some ridge or ascending a 

 knoll in the open grass land close by, cried aloud 

 over the silent land a cry which, as it seemed, 

 challenged a distant reply, but meeting with none, 

 left the stillness stiller than if it had not been uttered. 



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