8 8 IK VERERNE. 



them at their leisure. There were a great many kestrel hawks 

 flying about the rocks near the river. We saw six or eight 

 at once in several places. Amongst the rooks we saw one that 

 was nearly white. 



April 19^. To-day Eennie and myself killed four grey 

 geese. The strength and watchfulness of these birds in this 

 country, where they are so much harassed, makes them very 

 difficult to kill. Some that we killed were feeding on new sown 

 peas, and others on new sown barley. There seems to be a 

 great number of them just now in the country. 



April 20th. I saw a barn owl sitting on a tree overhanging 

 one of the highest cliffs of the river. 



The kestrel hawks are very numerous. We saw one fly into 

 a tree calling loudly, and carrying something, a small bird or 

 mouse, in its beak. Presently another hawk of the same kind 

 came, and the first bird immediately gave its prey up to the 

 last comer, who carried it off. The bird who brought the mouse 

 carried it in its beak, but the one who received it carried it off 

 in its claws. 



April 23rd. I went again to look for wild geese, but 

 though we saw a great number and several large flocks evidently 

 newly arrived, searching over the country for good feeding- 

 places, we could not get a shot. One time when we nearly had 

 succeeded, the flock took alarm at the cries of some rooks 

 who saw us and flew off. I have more than once lost a chance 

 at geese by these birds giving alarm. The flights of geese as 

 they pass over have a very picturesque effect flying in the 

 shape of a V, with generally a large bird at the head or point of 

 the V, and signalling to each other with an occasional cry. 

 When about to alight they break their rank and collect in a con- 

 fused mass. When they arrive near their resting-place on the 

 sands, the whole flock frequently dart off in different directions, 

 shooting through the air and performing evolutions that one 

 would scarcely suspect so heavy a bird could accomplish. Beans 

 and peas seem their favourite food. 



April 24th. Wild goose shooting omnium rerum incertissima. 



