POLYGLOT ANIMALS 217 



The absence of any universal bird-speech is seen 

 most clearly by any one who observes their habits in 

 places where such a common language would natur- 

 ally be expected. On the shores of some estuaries, 

 or of the North Norfolk coast, it is possible to see 

 from a thousand to perhaps three thousand birds, 

 closely united in race, and living all day in sight of 

 one another, associating in flocks, with common 

 feeding -grounds and common dangers a " com- 

 munity V of plovers, knots, ring - dotterels, stints, 

 curlews, sandpipers, and other kindred species. Their 

 interchange of ideas by means of the voice is very 

 limited, and a common code might easily be learnt. 

 They require a call-note of inquiry " Where are 

 you ? " another for answer, sometimes the same 

 note " Here I am " an alarm-note, and a note 

 uttered when flying or rising from the ground, which 

 may be interpreted as a sound of mutual encour- 

 agement or pleasure. Not a trace of a common 

 code appears. Each kind has its own call, its own 

 answer, and its own flighting note. Their many and 

 various musical whistles make one of the charms of 

 the winter shore ; but they show the curious section- 

 alism of bird-language. The ease with which they 

 might adopt a common tongue is evident from the 

 fact that many coast-men learn some, and a few of 

 great natural ability as fowlers learn #//, of these calls. 

 As in Heligoland, where the islanders " whistle down " 

 passing birds from the sky, so on the Norfolk coast 

 there are men who can " call down " a single golden 

 plover, a stint, or even a curlew. One of the most 



