The Zoologist— October, 1873. 3715 



and remarks, " The black soil of ditches appears an irresistible 

 temptation to it," 



August, 1873. 



Green Sandpiper. — An adult bird was shot on the 20th, at the 

 margin of a pond at Norlhrepps ; and on the 25th I saw three 

 flying together on the banks of the Yare, near Cantley. Two or 

 three specimens have been also brought to our Norwich bird- 

 stuff'ers. 



Greensliank. — A bird of this species was shot at the same pond 

 as the last-mentioned bird on the 21st; it proved to be a bird of 

 the year. 



Nocturnal Migrants. — The call-notes of birds over the city have 

 been heard on many nights during this month, more particularly 

 preceding the thunder and vivid lightning which has occurred on 

 several successive evenings, between the hours of nine and twelve. 

 On the 15th and 17th the passage of migrants was noticed after 

 dark by many individuals. On the night of the 24th, at eleven 

 o'clock, very dark, with summer lightning all the evening, 1 heard 

 redshanks whistling overhead, passing apparently in small groups, 

 but proceeding due north and south. The same thing occurred 

 the next night about nine o'clock, preceding a sharp thunder-storm. 

 Stragglers of other species, whose cries were diflicult to recognise, 

 passed at the same time over my garden — one, an undoubted ringed 

 plover, if one might judge by its clamour, flying singly. The red- 

 shank's whistle, as the chief harmony, has been unmistakable this 

 autumn, but, strange to say, I have heard no golden plover, which 

 usually form the bulk of our whistling night birds. 



Swift and House Martin. — The large number of swifts seen for 

 many weeks over my garden had nearly all disappeared prior to 

 the 24th of this month, and on the 31st I observed only two pairs 

 amongst many house martins. Of the latter a large number con- 

 gregated on the slates of a house next to mine on the 31st, but these 

 disappeared about mid-day, and I have seen only a h\\ stragglers 

 since near this part of the city. During the intensely hot weather 

 the house martins, in the hottest glare of the sunshine, ascended 

 into the deep blue vault of heaven, and there performed a mazy 

 dance, accompanied by loud twittering notes, which alone directed 

 the eye to their whereabouts when "scarce so gross as beetles." 

 This I have observed on many occasions, but I think generally 



