9408 Birds. 



suddenly down into the deeper shades below. The redwings, as a 

 rule, flew higher, would perch for a moment on the outer rows of trees, 

 and then fly forward again ; several perched, within a yard of my po- 

 sition, on the slender boughs of a young larch, to the great astonish- 

 ment of the retriever at my feet, who seemed fairly puzzled at their 

 conduct. What was most remarkable was the almost perfect silence 

 with which this large company of birds settled down for the night ; 

 only the occasional, simple, low note of a blackbird was heard, as if 

 quarrelling with his neighbour on the adjoining bough. The latest 

 birds in were the redwings. Then came the whistling of wings over- 

 head, and the forms of the peewits could be dimly discerned as they 

 went flapping past to their feeding-grounds on the higher lands; and 

 sometimes the swift rush and melancholy note of the golden plover 

 sounded high above in the gathering gloom. It was surprising to see 

 the ease with which the green plover detected me, almost concealed 

 as I was in the dark covert, and partly shrouded in the thick spruce- 

 boughs ; scarcely a flock passed over without swerving rapidly on one 

 side, and this at a time when I could only barely distinguish them by 

 the white gleam of the under parts. 



John Cordeaux. 

 Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire. 



Some further Notes on the Birds which Breed on Walney Island, 

 By J. Edmund Harting, Esq, 



I AM pleased to see (Zool. 9321) the observations of Mr. Ecroyd 

 Smith with regard to the birds found breeding on Walney and the 

 adjacent islands. 



In many cases I believe the truth is only to be arrived at by com- 

 paring the notes of different observers at different times, and therefore 

 I am glad that my notes (Zool. 9156) have not been left entirely with- 

 out comment. 



Mr. Ecroyd Smith points out some singular difierences between his 

 observations and my own, and I should like therefore to offer a few 

 remarks upon his notes, taking them in the order in which he has 

 given them. I would first observe, however, that, considering I 

 visited Walney Island only a few days beforehand, and worked the 

 ground thoroughly, especially the western shore, quartering it, in fact, 

 like a pointer, I am not surprised that Mr. Ecroyd Smith experienced 



