HABITS OF THE GREAT PLOVER. 275 



when I came flown away. They are, indeed, wonderfully quiet 

 this morning (compared, at least, with yesterday), hardly a bird 

 running (none just now), but all sitting and sunning themselves ; 

 for one rising and running, or rising merely, becomes at once 

 visible. It is a fine sunny day, but was fine and sunny in the 

 morning yesterday too. It is, however, I think, somewhat less 

 cold. 



September 22nd. — Between 3 and 4 a.m. a violent storm was 

 blowing, with, as I thought, rain, and I was anxious to see how 

 this weather might affect the birds. At daylight, though not 

 quite so rough, it was still blowing almost a gale. No rain was 

 falling, nor do I think any had fallen. A west wind ; the western 

 part of the sky clear. I first went to my old watch-place on edge 

 of amphitheatre, expecting to find the birds assembled there, as 

 they had flown up yesterday from that direction ; but, on searching 

 with the glasses, I could not discover any. (It was quite light, 

 probably between 5.30 and 6, but had forgotten to look at clock 

 before starting.) I then walked to same place as yesterday, and, 

 sitting with my face turned towards where I had come from, 

 waited for the birds, hoping to be able both to watch their flight 

 up and mark their point of departure. I first noted, however, 

 that some birds (possibly a good number, though I could only 

 make out six or seven) were sitting in the heather on other side 

 of bank, in same place as before. This long bank, for the most 

 part covered with bracken, dividing the moor, and approaching 

 in one place near a patch of open wood, gives fine opportunities 

 for patient watching. I watched, however, in vain — no birds 

 appeared; and, when I judged it to be about nine or later, 

 I thought it no use to stay longer. It may perhaps be on 

 account of the very strong stormy wind inclining them to lie 

 close, for I do not suppose they had flown up before I came, so 

 much earlier than on the two preceding mornings. 



As I am on the point of going five birds fly up, but on reaching 

 bank they shear off, and fly right away instead of going down 

 amongst the others ; may possibly have seen me. They did not 

 come from direction of the amphitheatre as on former occasions. 



In reflecting on the incident of the Hawk and Plover, as wit- 

 nessed by me on morning of 20th, I begin to think I may have 

 misinterpreted it — undervalued it, so to speak. At the time it 



