3i8 Ovnithological Observations and Reflections in Shetland. 



the example — the incentive — strong though it may be — of 

 that sudden quick cry, and ail-off, and of staying behind ; 

 and will do so, as I have just seen, if sufficiently interested in 

 any research it may be making, or it may simply stand still — 

 interested in nothing apparently — and e'en let them go. 



I also thought, this morning, that I saw a Golden Plover 

 feeding on the rocks in this way, but may have been mistaken. 



Starlings and Rock Doves fly about and feed, together, 

 here, over the cultivated parts of the land. When they all go 

 up, at once, the large light blue flashes, with the smaller brown 

 dots amongst them, look very pretty. 



Starlings pay much attention to cow-dung, and are often 

 very near to the cows. I have seen a bird close against the 

 foot of one, and pecking, but whether at the foot I cannot 

 say — I hardly think so. 



I have now seen Eider Ducks of both sexes swimming 

 together, like any other Ducks, at this time of the year. Each 

 seemed equally indifferent to the other, but there may be no 

 such indifference really. I counted twelve males on the 

 water, and one feeding on the rocks (it was off some rocky 

 islets, not too far out for the glasses) and the females may have 

 been as many or more, but were not so easy to make out, and 

 also seemed to dive oftener. 



There is now, at 3 or 3-15 p.m. (as far as I can judge, 

 through my watch going fast) a great congregation of Kittiwakes 

 off the east coast. The birds all seem to be in a state of pleas- 

 urable excitement. Their harsh, but not unpleasing throats 

 are in continual exercise, so that, softened by the numbers — 

 each individual cry being merged in every other, and thus 

 losing some of its acrimony — it becomes a sort of clangorous 

 susurrus. The number of the birds, I should imagine, must 

 be, at least, three hundred, but it may be many more. They 

 are gathered closely together, the space covered by their 

 bodies having, roughly, the form of a circle, and whilst the 

 great mass of them, at any one time, are on the water, small 

 parties keep rising and flitting, a little, over the assemblage, 

 to come down within it, again; or, by ones, two and threes, 

 birds will change their places, the effect being as of a constant 

 clustering, so that the scene is full of animation as well as 

 beauty, for the birds, as they float on the wave, are all grace 

 and delicacy, whilst the light mauve of their backs and wings, 

 and whiteness of their tails, as they rise, and float above it, 

 add a charm more fay-like and unique. Then, all at once, 

 single-thoughtedly, and for no other conceivable reason than 

 the will to do so, the whole great concourse, rising in a thick 

 cloud, and with a wonderful effect of pinions and tails, as 

 aforesaid, sweep outwards to all sides, so that the cloud becomes 

 thinner, and having wheeled, flitted and hovered, for a little. 



Naturalist, 



