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Mr. J. Lewis Bonhote,



nities for studying their various plumages, habits, etc. At dusk

they rise in small parties and all leave the gardens to feed in the

surrounding country.


On one side of this pond is a large thick bush, which,

grows out over the water and forms an island ; this is the winter

retreat of hundreds of Night Herons, which, like the ducks, pass

the day peacefully roosting, unmindful of the continuous stream

of visitors, and then at dusk fly off with much squawking into

the open country.


Among the many pleasant memories of last winter, few

are more cherished than those of the short twilight, which

succeeds the glorious sunsets of that country.


The air is cool and refreshing after the heat of the day, the

visitors have gone, and the gardens are given up to Nature ;

Kites and Crows congregate to roost, the former entering a thick

fir plantation without a sound, while the latter congregate in

large numbers on some leafless tree and chatter for a few

moments before taking refuge among thicker foliage. Kestrels

coming in from the fields fly round a few times uttering their

sharp ‘kelc-kek’ and then quietly drop to where some big bough

leaves the trunk, and there, silent and invisible, pass the night.

The twilight deepens ; Thrushes and Blackbirds scuttle about the

bushes, calling out in their familiar way, a few small bats appear,

hawking over the water with uncertain flight, the flute-like

‘Chi-ou’ of the Little Owl is heard, and as he sees us he bobs

up and down in his peculiar manner and then darts off to another

perch.


The loud and shrill whistle of the Norfolk Plover rings

out as they fly swiftly over the Gardens, a few ducks are seen on

the wing, and then comes the squawk of the Night Herons as

they fly out into the open country. A common Heron will

probably be seen flying round, and then, with outstretched wings,

slowly drop down to seek its food by the edge of some water¬

course.


It is now nearly dark, two noiseless shadows over our

head shows the track of the Barn Owl, and the well-known ‘ ring’

of ducks’ wings tell us more clearly than our eyes that the

‘flight’ is in full swing. It is soon dark ; the busy period when



