218 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



15th onwards a number of young Herons, covered with un- 

 developed quills, continually invaded the dykes and shallow pools 

 here* in search of eels. This is frequently the case during a dry 

 season like the present one, when the water has become low. 

 These birds must chiefly hail, I think, from the heronry at Brede. 

 On these partial migrations in search of food many are shot by 

 the farmers, who esteem them good eating. 



The breeding numbers of the Redshank have decidedly 

 diminished here. Increased drainage and the dry weather of the 

 last two summers have done a great deal towards the banishment 

 not only of this species, but especially of the Coot and Little 

 Grebe. 



Many parts of the large dykes and pools that were only a few 

 years back favourite breeding resorts of these birds have dried 

 up and are now nothing more than thick reed-beds. In these 

 " reedy" places the Reed Warbler has found a home. Any 

 sudden noise will cause this bird to sing vehemently, while the 

 footfalls of a passer-by invariably draw from him a song. 



The Little Grebe is locally known as " Spider Diver." 

 When considering the decrease of the Redshank, the taking 

 of their eggs by the country people for eating must not be lightly 

 disregarded. The immediate locality of the nest is soon dis- 

 covered, for no bird, with the exception of the Lapwing, betrays 

 the whereabouts of its nest more readily than does the Redshank. 

 It flies overhead in concentric circles uttering alarm- notes, which 

 are for all the world in tone like a string of plaintive sobs that 

 become wilder and more heartrending as the nest is approached. 

 A short search will soon find the eggs. 



On May 22nd a pair of Thickknee Plovers appeared on the 

 " Lydd Beach." After carefully watching them for some days 

 I was rewarded in finding their two eggs. They were deposited 

 amongst some flowering foxglove — altogether a pretty site— but 

 all the same unhappily selected, since the locality was con- 

 tinually being subjected to a "dropping" artillery fire. I had 

 hopes of being able to see the young, but after four days of 

 sitting the birds deserted the nest. The extraordinary sense of 

 smell possessed by the Thickknee renders a near approach to the 

 nest without disturbing the bird difficult. 



* "Here," in this article, refers to the Lydd Beach and its immediate 

 neighbourhood. 



