2846 The Zoologist — November, 1871. 



is a most perfect description of what occurred here. I took down some 

 notes at the time, viz. the hour, date and names of such birds as I was 

 certain of, and I find noted the ringed plover, duuHn, redshanlc and whimbrel. 

 There were some, however (and evidently in considerable numbers), which 

 I could not make out; a flock of them passed over every now and then, 

 uttering a low muttering note, as birds often do when flying in a flock or 

 on the feed by night. I took them to be birds of some size — could they be 

 godwits ? The flights seemed to be passing over the town in a Une with 

 the coast. It was a very dark, gloomy night, and rain began to fall whilst 

 they were still passing over. The note of the common sandpiper I did not 

 observe, and that of the yellow wagtail I confess to be unacquainted with. 

 Where is it possible these flights were from, and where bound, supposing 

 (as is most probable) they were the same flights noticed at Plymouth three 

 nights after? — V. Knight; Folkestone, October 4, 1871. 



Extraordinarj' Flight of Birds by Night. — The following communication 

 from me appeared in our local papers last month. As I see in the ' Zoolo- 

 gist' for October two notices of the same occurrence, in widely remote 

 districts (one from Bedford, the other from Plymouth), it is all the more 

 curious : in the latter it is printed, " after the storm on the 11th " (is that a 

 misprint for the 6th?), but as they were heard in this neighbourhood for 

 two days after it was doubtless the same flight. 



" To the Editor of the Chronicle (Did Mercury. — During the time of the 

 remarkable thunder-storm which passed over Leicester, and which was very 

 general in various parts of England, on the evening of the 0th instant, — the 

 lightning being very vivid and grand, and such as has not been seen for 

 many years, — an unusual spectacle was witnessed in this town, and in many 

 parts of the country, and also throughout the nights of the 7th and 8th 

 instant. Immense flocks of birds were observed flying about in wild con- 

 fusion, uttering doleful cries, as though driven by the storm and in distress. 

 They were either passing or hovering over our town, apparently attracted 

 by the gas-light. They appeared incapable of proceeding in any direct 

 coui'se, and at times were close to the house-roofs, and for hours they kept 

 up a shrill whistling, similar to that made by sea-birds. The same pheno- 

 menon was noticed at Newark, Brigg, Louth, Grantham, Stamford and 

 Kettering, a distance from north to south of about fift}' miles ; thus showing 

 the area of the flock to be enormous, and occupying some hours in its transit. 

 Various opinions have been expressed as to the kind of birds they were, — 

 plover, curlew, gull, wild duck, teal or wigeon, &c., — but the whistling 

 shrill tone was by no means indicative that the mass was composed of 

 various kinds. It would be interesting to know if the nocturnal passengers 

 were land or sea-birds. Perhaps some of your correspondents more vei-sed 

 in Ornithology may also have noticed them, and can throw further light on 

 the subject. — Thomas Spencer; The Holly Hayes, Fosse Road, Leicester, 

 September 18, 1871." 



