BIRDS OF THE HUMBER DISTRICT. Ill 



In the autumn, compared with the large spring 

 flocks, few visit us ; at this season they pass over the 

 district without alighting. This autumn migration, 

 which is carried on in the daytime, takes place from 

 the middle of July to the end of September*. These 

 migratory flocks vary in size from eight or ten and up- 

 wards ; I have never observed them to exceed thirty 

 birds. They advance at an immense height, generally 

 in line, one leading, the rest following, not directly, 

 but " en echelon" and are constantly repeating their 

 call-note, without which, indeed, owing to the great 

 height at which they fly, it would be impossible to 

 identify them. 



168. TOTANUS FUSCUS (Linnaeus). Spotted Red- 

 shank. 



All the specimens, four in number, of this rare 

 wader that I have hitherto met with in this district 

 have been in the autumn, and are all in the smoke- 

 black and spotted plumage. From what our "gunners" 

 have told me, I am inclined to think that it is of more 

 regular occurrence on our shores in the autumn than 

 is generally supposed, and that it is sometimes mis- 

 taken for the young of the Common Redshank. 



169. TOTANUS CALIDRIS (Linnaeus) . Common Red- 

 shank. 

 This is one of those species formerly very abundant 



* In 1865 I observed small flocks on their return passage 

 during the first week in July. 



