ORNITHOLOGICAL NOTES FROM RYE. 411 



itself to roost in some well-conditioned plantation, or before 

 starting on migration, a few leading birds will station themselves 

 on a lofty tree-top and there commence singing at the top of their 

 voices, starting with long-drawn whistles. Every minute strag- 

 glers keep dropping in, and then, when the flocks become formed, 

 a general advance is executed. 



Aug. 29th. Light westerly wind. A large number of Black- 

 headed Gulls (Larus ridibundus) of the year came to the sands 

 early this morning. No doubt these birds belong to the colony 

 at the Hoppen Petts, near Lydd. I am told that these pieces of 

 water are deserted by them every autumn with marked regularity. 

 There is a saying down here that the " Crocker," as this Gull is 

 locally called, leaves the Hoppen Petts on Romney Fair-day, 

 which falls on August 21st. 



Aug, 21st. Several Common Sandpipers (Tringa hypoleucus) 

 appeared to-day, and a Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa cegocephala) , 

 immature male, was shot. 



Sept. 2nd. A Broad-billed Sandpiper (Tringa platyrhyncha) , 

 immature male, was obtained at the harbour out of a flock of 

 Dunlin. This specimen, together with the female of this species 

 obtained at the same place, and under similar circumstances, last 

 December (Zool. 1895, p. 449), brings the recorded Sussex-killed 

 specimens up to five. 



Sept. 6th. Young Swallows and Martins are in great strength, 

 skimming to and fro over brackish pieces of water, or basking on 

 the sands at low tide. Towards evening these large bands had 

 moved eastward along the coast and were within two miles of 

 Dungeness Point Lapwings have put in an appearance, for the 

 first time since the breeding season, invading the fallow fields in 

 large numbers. The Lapwing is now very silent, and it is only at 

 night, when disturbed, that he gives vent to a few random crack- 

 toned notes, bearing a striking contrast to the clear ones uttered 

 during the breeding season, when he seems plainly to be telling 

 the intruder within his nesting circle to "go to, go to, go t6." 

 Another Broad-billed Sandpiper (Tringa platyrhyncha), immature 

 female, was shot at Littlestone out of a flock of Dunlin. This, I 

 believe, is the first instance on record of this species having been 

 obtained in Kent. 



Sept. 7th. A Little Stint (Tringa minuta), female, from a flock 

 of Dunlin. Not very often met with here, and still less during 



