HABITS OF THE GREAT PLOVER. 185 



soon as it fell they spread themselves all over the plateau, and 

 the dancing began. As far as I could observe, the birds now 

 were very little occupied in procuring food. There was a peck 

 or so at something now and again, but this was casual, and, as it 

 were, an interlude. The constant quick running and stopping 

 whilst the wings were folded appeared to me to be only a part 

 (the less excited part) of the general emotion, out of which the 

 sudden frenzies arose. There was also the usual vocal accom- 

 paniment. As soon as they had spread themselves out over the 

 amphitheatre the wailing note went up, and was caught and 

 repeated from one part of it to another at greater or less intervals. 

 The whole ended in flight as before. 



I remark a great difference in the shade of these birds, 

 plumage. The breast and ventral surface is indeed light in all, 

 but, whilst the back is in some so dark as to look, towards 

 evening, almost black through the glasses, in others it is so much 

 lighter that it looks almost white by contrast, or even of itself. 



September ilth. — About 1 p.m. walked towards the amphi- 

 theatre without concealing myself, wishing merely to ascertain if 

 birds were there at that hour. When I was still a good way off a 

 very large number rose into the air, and I then edged off so as 

 not to alarm them further, and to let them resettle, which after a 

 time they did, and I retired. 



At 11 p.m., it being bright moonlight, I again went to the 

 place, and walked around and over the entire amphitheatre, 

 noticing and picking up several feathers in the moonlight. I did 

 not put up a single bird, nor could I hear their cry anywhere 

 around. The place was quite deserted. Keturning, I had the 

 pleasure of liberating a poor Rabbit caught in one of those 

 vile toothed traps, the selling or possession of which should be 

 made a criminal offence, with punishment to " fit the crime," 



a la Mikado. 



(To be continued.) 



Zooi. Mk ser. vol. IV., April, 1900. 



