2338 The Zoologist — October, 1870. 



the rest appear birds of the year. On alighting they commenced 

 feeding with the " bartails," affording a most favourable opportunity of 

 comparing the two species. The most obvious distinction when we 

 see them side by side is the much larger size of L. melanura, and their 

 longer legs and bill : this difference in size looks as comparatively 

 great as that between the curlew and whimbrel. In other respects 

 their habits are much alike, and they seem equally fond of washing 

 and preening their feathers. They are much shyer, however, than the 

 bartailed species. 



All this time the tide was rising and rapidly covering the flats; 

 the whole company of birds slowly retreating before it, and 

 approaching the embankment. I have never before in August seen 

 so numerous and goodly a company. Now that the harvest is gathered 

 these marshes have a bleak and wintry aspect, and the effect to-day 

 increased by the heavy masses of piled cumuli in the north and west — 

 had it been winter these cloud mountains would certainly presage a 

 snow-storm : as I am leaving the coast the sun for a few moments 

 bursts out from behind the cloud range, illuminating the brown river 

 and its dreary belt of mud with floods of light, and brings out in strong 

 relief the various troops of gulls and waders dispersed over two miles 

 of foreshore. But my luck was not yet over: walking homewards 

 across the marsh pastures I disturbed a small flock of waders : they 

 soon settle again and prove old acquaintances, a ruff and seven reeves, 

 the former now without his brilliant nuptial garb, and only distinguish- 

 able from the reeves by his larger size. In this same field were the 

 two birds marked down two hours previously : as I had expected, they 

 proved golden plover, both young birds of the year : they permit me 

 to walk past within less than twenty yards, and even stand without 

 taking the alarm. 



Probably i'ew places on our east coast can at this time show a more 

 varied and interesting assembly of shore birds than the Humber flats. 

 In less than four hours I have seen curlew, whimbrel, bar and black- 

 tailed godwit, knot, ringed dotterel, dunlin, sanderling, turnstone, 

 gray and golden plover, and ruff and reeves; besides great and lesser 

 blackbacked gulls, " brown-heads," common and herring gulls. 



I have neither seen nor heard any greenshank during the month, and 

 what is rather remarkable, considering they are by no means 

 uncommon at this season, no redshank. j^^^ Cokdeaux. 



Great Cotes, Ulceby, Lincolnshire, 

 September 8, 1870. 



