HABITS OF THE WHIMBREL. 245 
and, to me, quite fresh experience, as it was repeated over 
and over again, though the bird sometimes pitched on the 
ground and rested before resuming its upward flight. The 
wing, when folded to the bird’s side, also appeared to droop a 
little at the points of the primary feathers—i.e. it was not 
drawn in tight to the body, but hung loosely, thus undoubtedly 
giving some assistance to the zig-zagging effect of the down- 
ward plunge. 
When I came out of the concealment again I searched for 
the young, but the other bird rose quite one hundred yards 
away, and the young had no doubt been ably concealed; and 
there was plenty of long heather and other cover around, 2. e. 
cover enough effectually to conceal the fluffy youngsters. But I 
enjoyed the hour I spent in that friendly little hollow near to 
the nesting-site of these interesting Waders. 
