124 The Zoologist — March, 1866. 



July. I noticed an instance of the great voracity of crabs : having 

 shot a ringed plover, which fell in the water, I went as soon as I had 

 reloaded to pick it up; not more than two minutes could have 

 elapsed, but when I arrived at the spot where it fell I could only see 

 the tip of one wing some distance below the surface of the water : 

 upon seizing this and pulling it out, I landed at the same time three 

 crabs; they had already made a considerable hole in the breast of the 

 bird. I have since seen a redstart that was treated in the same way 

 before it could be picked up. 



Gray Plover. — I have only once observed these birds at Rainham. 

 On the 8£h of October last a flock of about fifteen or twenty settled on 

 the mud in the creek ; a friend who was with me succeeded in stalking 

 them, and shot two. They had nearly completed their autumnal 

 moult. 



Lapwing. — A few pairs annually remain on the marshes to breed, 

 but I fancy their eggs are generally taken by the shepherds, as I have 

 only once seen a young bird in the neighbourhood. 



Turnstone. — I saw one or two in September, but they are rare. 

 Last year ray brother killed one on the 26lh of August, the first I ever 

 saw in this district. 



Oysiercatcher. — One made its appearance on the 20lh of last 

 September; my brother, however, gave it so warm a reception that it 

 quickly went off again. It is a decided rarity. 



Heron. — Young birds of this species were common during July, but 

 were, as usual, very shy. I only succeeded in getting at them once, 

 shooting two one morning before breakfast. On the 10th of July I saw 

 five flying together. 



Curletv. — The curlews returned to the marshes this autumn about 

 the second week in August. The young birds, on their arrival, are not 

 nearly so wild as they afterwards become when collected into flocks, 

 and are killed in numbers by the lishermen and " mud-diggers :" their 

 mode of proceeding is to take with them a trained dog, as much like 

 a fox as possible : after hiding in a dyke they send the dog out on the 

 mud-flats left bare by the receding tide: as soon as the curlews see 

 the animal they almost invariably attack it, flying round and round, 

 uttering loud yells and occasionally making a pounce at it; the dog, 

 who understands his business well, beats a retreat towards the spot 

 where his master lies hidden ; the curlews follow up their success with 

 vigour, but to their confusion, for as soon as they are well within 

 range the man shoots one, and reloading does the same again ; so 



