12 ORNITHOLOGICAL EAMBLES. 



shy and wary on all occasions, and I only obtained 

 one other specimen in the whole course of my tour. 

 I now killed a little dunlin (Tringa variabilis), and, as 

 the shades of night were swiftly closing in, I at once 

 turned hack upon my journey homewards, feeling I 

 had some distance to retrace. 



The reed-like call of the landrail smote the ear 

 incessantly from the denser covert of the corn and 

 young hay-grass, and the dear little sedge warbler 

 (Sylvia phragmitis), hymning its melodies on the 

 midnight air, sweetly serenaded me at every step as 

 I wandered homew r ards to my own repose. 



