54 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



on British birds (4th ed. vol. i., pp. 544, 545). 

 " Tile movements of tlie Pied Wagtail," says 

 Professor Newton (pp. cit.), "have been noticed by- 

 many writers, but by none more carefully than Mr 

 Knox, who, having lived for some years on the 

 coast of Sussex, was singularly well placed for the 

 observation of migratory birds in general, and paid 

 much attention to them. A great deal of what he 

 has so happily recorded with respect to the Pied 

 Wagtail applies equally to many others, so that his 

 remarks deserve more than ordinary consideration, 

 serving as they do to throw light on the whole of 

 that mysterious subject, and being those of an 

 unusually watchful and accurate ornithologist." 



As might be expected from the nature of the 

 place, the birds which resorted there were chiefly 

 waders and wildfowl, and at all seasons some of the 

 commoner species of Gulls. In spring and autumn 

 the waders were decidedly in the majority, in winter 

 the Ducks, Geese, and occasionally Swans were the 

 most conspicuous objects upon this wild waste of 

 mud and water. Forty years [Ekeu fugacesf) 

 have elapsed since the writer first visited Pagham 

 Harbour, and discovered what an excellent spot it 

 was for studying the habits, notes, flight, food, 

 changes of plumage, and other peculiarities of the 

 birds which resorted there ; and between the years 

 1863 and 1887 there was no better "shore-shooting" 

 to be had anywhere in the south of England than 

 might there be enjoyed at the proper season. It 

 was in 1862 that I made the acquaintance of the 

 late Mr A. E. Knox, and listening to his animated 



