BTRDS OF LAUDERDALE 317 



suddenly a large liawk attacked one of them, trying to detach 

 it from the rest. In this the assailant was successful, but 

 the hunted bird, after doubling and twisting in the air with 

 cries of terror, made for a high plantation on the banks of 

 the stream, struggled through the trees and, by a wide circle, 

 joined its companions. So far as was seen the hawk gave up tlie 

 pursuit. Merlins frequent some of our glens and occasionally 

 nest ; but with the >Sparrow-Hawk they suffer badly at the 

 hands of the gamekeeper. Kestrels are fairly plentiful. Our 

 well stocked grouse moors bring the larger hawks, though last 

 season Red Grouse were sadly decimated by a cold spring and 

 disease. Small packs of Black Game affect parts of the hillier 

 country, and on one side come very close to the town. Every 

 spring Ring-ousels i-eturn to the glens, and are conspicuous 

 enough with their white collar and noisy note. The wild 

 plaintive calls of Curlew and Golden Plover form one of the 

 pleasantest sounds of the early year. All the uplands about 

 resound with them. The call of the Curlew has a great 

 fascination for the Starlings, which repeat it and the cry 

 of the Lapwing with wonderful exactness, oftener perhaps 

 than the notes of any other birds. In the "end of the season 

 to the number sometimes of several thousands. Golden Plover 

 frequent the low-lying fields in the dale with Green Plover, 

 both kinds staying most of the winter. Many of these 

 birds must come from Northern latitudes, and the flocks 

 increase as the season advances. Accustomed to the wide, 

 unobstructed moorland. Golden Plover are less cautious of 

 any obstacle in their flight — from field to field — and during 

 the earlier- part of winter more of these birds are found dead 

 along the railway from contact with the telegraph wire than 

 of any other kind. Dotterel and an occasional Dunlin pay a 

 passing call to the high moors in early summer and late autumn. 

 An old gamekeeper friend remembers the time when Dotterel 

 nested near to Blythe Edge. Once I have seen the Dunlin in 

 June by the side of the Leader. Meadow-pipits are among our 

 commonest birds wherever there is heather, and the Snipe 

 bleats and drums in the nesting season above the rushy patches 

 on the moors. Two or three Snipe may then be heard together 

 on Jjander Common, 



