HABITS OF THE GREAT PLOVER. 465 



a little, both the birds crouched and lay flat along the ground (a 

 desert scene, one had the Sahara), one in the sun, another in 

 slight shade. The latter, though in full view, became at once 

 almost invisible, so that, when I took my eyes off him, I found 

 it difficult to find him again. In a minute or two this one got 

 up, and, making two or three short little runs forward, picked up 

 something from the ground and swallowed it — ivhat, I could not 

 see. Both were now on their legs, and very shortly flew back 

 to where they had come from. 



Peewits circling about in the sky singly, or, if they can be 

 called " together," yet very widely spread out, and occupying a 

 great area. 



Peewits not nearly so much en evidence this morning. 



One Peewit makes a little run forward up to another, and 

 stands by, or rather over him, with both wings lifted above back 

 to fullest height — brandished, as it were. 



7.25. — Most of the Peewits rise and fly away (going in direction 

 of the fens), but it is two or three minutes before the cattle 

 appear, driven slowly towards the plateau, and then across it. 



As they get nearer a few other Peewits fly after the first. 

 Finally all the birds arise, the rest of the Peewits following their 

 companions, the Plovers flying over bracken to the moor. Of 

 these latter I count thirty-seven. 



September 29th, 1899. — Leaving home, when crescent moon 

 and stars were brightly shining (calm and still, sky clear, but 

 slight mist over earth), walked to the bank, and, before taking 

 up my station, purposely went all over just that part of the 

 heath where the birds assemble (to the number of two hundred 

 or three hundred). I did not put up any bird. At 4.10 took 

 my place on the bracken-covered part of the bank, having now 

 several times heard the ground-note of the Plovers. Probably 

 on the arable land around; I had put up none whilst walking 

 over the heath to the bank. 



4.15. — Trumpet of a Pheasant. 



4.30.— Several Pheasants trumpet. 



4.50. — Cry of Great Plover close, on ground, and first one 

 flies over bank. I hear it only — the wings. It makes no cry. 

 Now keep hearing ground-cry of Plovers close, as if they were 

 walking to their place. 



