9806 Birds. 



composing this autumnal flight. Owls had been heard to hoot by the 

 road-side ; large white birds, as big as tvild geese, had been seen 

 dashing round the lamp-posts ; and one man was reported, on the best 

 authority, to have fired up at the noisy throng, and to have found two 

 or three golden plovers dead in his garden next morning. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, for this apparently convincing statement, I found, 

 on making inquiries of the individual himself, that he had merely said, 

 " i/ he had fired his gun he must have killed some of theui, they flew 

 so low." Thus much, then for mere rumours, but although the cries 

 of such birds over the city, at certain periods in the autumn, is not an 

 uncommon circumstance, the numbers and amount of vociferation on 

 this particular occasion were very remarkable, the latter induced no 

 doubt by the coming rain, the term "pluvialis" being applied to the 

 golden plover, from its restless nature during unsettled weather. As 

 far as I could learn, they were heard for several miles around the city, 

 and in every direction ; but I cannot ascertain that any were seen on 

 the following morning, as might have been expected, resting in the 

 fields or meadows in the surrounding neighbourhood. On referring to 

 my note-books for the last fifteen years, I find records of several 

 similar instances, under the following dates: — 1850, November 29th, 

 December 1st; 1851, October Qlst; 1856, August 20th ; 1857, Octo- 

 ber 13th; 1860, August 14th. In every case I have noted that the 

 nights were very dark (and hence the attraction of the city lights 

 would be much greater), and on the 20th of August, 1850, the weather 

 had suddenly changed to wet with incessant rain for twenty-four 

 hours, causing a moist harvest time, as in the present year. As a 

 proof that the golden plover and other allied species commenced their 

 southward movements as early as llie middle of August, though for the 

 most part passing us unheeded on their nocturnal course, I may also 

 add that in the same week of August, 1856, I was shown two young 

 golden plovers, quite fresh, which had been picked up dead under the 

 telegraph-wires on the Yarmouth line. 



In connection also with the occunence of these birds in Norfolk, 

 1 must also direct the attention of your readers to a note in the ' Field' 

 of September 9th, in which a correspondent signing himself " Philor- 

 nis" writes of an extensive " flock of wild-fowl," as passing over the 

 town of Leicester about eleven o'clock on the very same evening 

 (September 23rd). " Attracted by their loud notes," he says, " I opened 

 the door and stepped out, and saw the dark outline of a flock of birds 

 going in a south-westerly direction. There was not light enough in 

 the sky by which to make out the colour, size, or exact species of 



