HABITS OF THE GREAT PLOVER. 469 



bank, where I concealed myself as on former occasions. The 

 birds that would now pass by me would be flying towards the 

 river (north), and it would be as difficult for me to see those 

 flying in an opposite direction (as yesterday) as it would, 

 yesterday, to have seen these. The birds were never, now, 

 between me and the light of the sky. 



5.40. — First cry of the birds — faint and undecided. 



5.45. — Note again heard, and soon swelled into the full 

 wailing chorus, repeated from one part of the heath to another. 



5.50. — Birds began to pass me, flying towards the river. 



6.10. — Last note heard from the assembly-place, though heard 

 it twice later from other parts (at 6.13 and 6.15). 



I counted twenty-nine birds fly past me, but no doubt missed 

 many in the gloom. The birds therefore got off this evening in 

 about twenty minutes. 



October Sth. — Walked up the road again this evening, and sat 

 down just as before, but a little higher up (more to the landward 

 side of the birds, and farther from the river) at 5.45. 



On account perhaps of the fineness of the day — it was, I 

 think, a little lighter than on previous evenings— there was no 

 cry of the birds at this time, or at 5.50 (but, being a little farther 

 off, I might not have heard a very slight cry). 



5.53.— Heard the first note (I think) slightly uttered. 



5.54. — First full decided cry. 



5.58.— Note becoming constant, rising and sinking (nothing, 

 however, compared to the evening of Oct. 5th). 



6.3.— Two birds fly by me to the left, away from river (south). 

 Hear note of others (or one other) flying on my right (riverside) 

 hand, but quite near (north). 



Then came three (right hand, near, north), and at 6.8 three, 

 and then one on left hand (south). 



Cry always continuing, but not very marked this evening. 



6.12.— Cry has ceased. Recommences in few seconds, but 

 soon subsides, and shortly recommences again, and again sub- 

 sides. 



6.15.— Silence. 



6.16.— One bird flies by, left hand leaving river (north). I 

 now left, and whilst walking down the road did not again hear 

 the cry of the birds. 



