HABITS OF THE GREAT PLOVER. 273 



Few minutes afterwards cooing of Wood-Pigeons heard in 

 distance (more or less) from wooded parts around. 



Sun now risen over crest of hill. 



Some small birds fly over the moor in same direction as Star- 

 lings (towards some wooded pieces). 



A Stonechat hovers in the air quite near me (I think, 

 examining me), the body seeming always to be in the same 

 place, and almost motionless, the wings continually and strongly 

 waving. 



Some ten or fifteen minutes later (sun now shining through 

 tops of row of tall fir-trees skirting road not far off) a couple of 

 Wood-Pigeons fly over the moor, and the cooing becomes more 

 en evidence. Then, as the sun crests the fir-trees, a Thrush 

 (flying very high for a Thrush) flies over moor. Then seven 

 Wood-Pigeons high in air. Small birds now fly over in numerous 

 little parties, two often chasing each other in joy and sport, as 

 though it were the pairing season. Their twittering is heard 

 about, the earth becomes lightened by the rising sun (now well 

 over firs), and life really awakes. 



But no sign of the Great Plovers yet. 



Sun well up (twice height of fir-trees), yet no sign of them. 



Must now be getting on for seven. 



Hawk sailing in air some way off, annoyed by quite a cloud 

 of small birds. This continues for some time. They do not 

 appear to be Swallows, but Buntings (to give a guess), and other 

 small Passeres. Hawk makes no endeavour to catch one. 



Splendid day as yet, but sharp and cold. 



In about another quarter of an hour a small flight of Wild 

 Duck fly high in air, following course of stream (up stream). 



I now notice some Plovers amongst the heather on other side 

 of bank in same place as before. They have, I think, been there 

 all the time, but I had taken them for Rabbits, and not used 

 the glasses. I cannot make out a dozen. They are quite 

 quiescent, all sitting, some preening themselves a little. Search- 

 ing the heather thoroughly can make out a few more, equally 

 inactive. 



Whilst thus engaged the main body of the birds came by in a 

 great flock, flying right over me, many of them, I should think, 

 not more than eight to twelve feet above me as I crouched on the 



