2420 The Zoologist — ^January, 1871. 



times the goldeu plover aud lapwings seemed massed together — until the 

 23rd of August of 1SC5, -when the feathered host which theu visited our 

 city aud neighbourhood exceeded not only in numbers, but in combinatiou 

 of species, anything before recorded in this part of the kingdom. The 

 night was extremely dark, and the close sultry air foretold the storm 

 •which, about 2 a.m., culminated in one terrific tlasli of lightning, accom- 

 panied by a deafening peal of thunder aud a perfect deluge of rain. Between 

 nine and ten o'clock I was first attracted by the ordinary whistle of the 

 plover, but on stepping into the garden became aware at once of the 

 unusual character of this migratory flight. The air seemed literally filled 

 with birds, but, though at times they were apparently within a few j^ards 

 of one's head, it was impossible to see anything, even when standing close 

 to the gas-lamps, on the road. Different flocks appeared to answer each 

 other, and their confused clamour was so great as to attract attention from 

 the least observant, and foi'med a general topic of conversation for days after. 

 Although, judging from the sound, they appeared to come and go, there 

 ■was nothing to indicate a du-ect movement in any particular direction, but 

 rather, as observed ou former occasions, a hovering round, their cries never 

 altogether ceasing, though occasioually almost dying away in the distance. 

 From subsequent enquiries, I found they had been heard in all parts of the 

 city, and for at least two or three miles round in every direction. The 

 main body evidently consisted of golden plover, and with them were also 

 lapwings aud redshanks, in much smaller quantities. Occasionally the 

 unmistakable ' crake ' of a tern was heard, quite apart from the rest, and 

 I believe I also recognized the scream of the blackheaded gull ; whilst in 

 the general Babel of sounds came the murmuring of smaller migrants, such 

 as thrushes aud finches. Many strange rumours were, of course, circulated 

 at the time, but, with the exception of such species as 1 have here named, 

 I could not ascertain that any others had been satisfactorily identified. 

 Amongst them, owls were said to have been heard hooting by the road-side, 

 and early in the evening large flocks of birds, like thrushes or redwings, to 

 have been seen settling on trees aud houses in the neighbourhood of the 

 city : but none appear to have been shot. The extraordinary noise of the 

 plover, induced most probably by the coming storm, was sufficient to 

 awaken many people during the night, and thus afforded evidence of the 

 presence of these birds for many hours, but it is difficult to imagine what 

 became of them in the early morning, when the rain fell in ton-ents. The 

 next day no trace whatever remained of our nocturnal visitants, which, with 

 their marvellous instinct, seemed to have passed on, to a bird, to their 

 winter quarters." — P. 72. 



The nesting of the ringed plover is alluded to in an interesting 

 paragraph, which I canuot forbear quoting, although at the expense 



