9486 Birds. 



I have before alluded (Zool. 9095) as being a favourite resort of this 

 species, and there they still remain, only venturing forth upon the 

 grass very early in the morning or in calm bright weather. Sometimes, 

 though rarely, one may be seen walking along the top of a wall ; but 

 the slightest sound is always sufficient to cause it to drop into the 

 bushes and weeds below. A dog will sometimes put them up, and 

 upon such occasions I have seen them fly for about a hundred yards, 

 keeping at the height of about twelve or fourteen feet above the ground, 

 seldom higher. After having been thus disturbed they always alight 

 in some place of concealment, such as the mouth of a drain or a mass 

 of tangled herbage. They fly heavilj-, and seem to experience some 

 difficulty in rising : on surprising one upon the snow, and compelling 

 it to take wing, it is easy to trace for a short distance the marks where 

 the snow has been brushed away by the tips of the wings. Some 

 years ago a bird of this species eluded my search in a manner as 

 clever as it was unexpected. Having seen it run beneath some weeds 

 which overhung a frozen ditch, I endeavoured, by walking along the 

 ice, to drive it to one end where there was no shelter, and so make 

 certain of a shot. Some fine snow had drifted beneath the weeds, and 

 it being easy to distinguish the single row of foot-marks leading in the 

 desired direction, I followed up at a smart pace; but just at the time 

 when the bird ought to have risen at the end of the ditch, to my sur- 

 prise, there appeared a second row of foot-marks leading in a direction 

 exactly opposite to the first. I turned and followed in all haste, but 

 the cunning bird fairly outwitted me, for the track ended at the mouth 

 of a drain, man}-^ yards beyond the point from which we had started. 

 I afterwards had the curiosity to trace back the old marks, and then 

 perceived that the bird had doubled as soon as the cover became 

 insufficient, and that rather than expose itself to view it had de- 

 liberately run into the very face of danger, passing me within the 

 distance of a fool, as if fully aware that the attempt, though hazardous, 

 offered the only chance of safety. 



Goldcneye and Great Blackhacked Gull. — Goldenej'es are still 

 rather plentiful, but the rough weather keeps them confined to sheltered 

 places. Some days ago I had a long shot at one, which, instead 

 of falling immediately, flew for about two hundred yards to seaward, 

 and then alighted. Seeing that it allowed itself to drift with the tide, 

 I concealed myself at a distant point, which it would evidently have to 

 pass with sufficient nearness to receive a second shot. However, on 

 Bearing the point it frustrated my kind intention by swimming oflF in 

 great haste, as though aware of the danger. At tbat moment three 



