In the Neighbourhood of Salisbury. 239 



appeared like a shifting 1 cloud, being too thick to be discerned 

 individually ; and I shall never forget my excitement, never having 

 seen such a flight before, when I realised that the seeming cloud 

 was in reality but myriads of birds in motion. Their classical name 

 is evidently taken from the varying plumage of the old and young, 

 and the difference of appearance in their winter and summer garb ; 

 which, however, does not vary so much in their case as in that of 

 the Knot and Phalarope, the Bar-tailed Godwit, and the next- 

 named species. 



Tringa Subarguata. " Curlew Tringa," or " Pigmy Curlew," so 

 called from its bill being slightly curved downward, after the manner 

 of the Curlew or Whimbrel. This bird is not nearly so numerous 

 as the one last mentioned, though it is generally scattered over our 

 south coasts. It occurs yearly at Christchurch, and was unusually 

 plentiful in 1880 and 1881. In 1873 Hart obtained a specimen in 

 full summer plumage, which is uncommon to meet with. In its 

 winter dress it is not altogether unlike the Purre, but it can at once 

 be distinguished from it by its white tail coverts, the same feathers 

 in the Purre being dark. There is another rare species, somewhat 

 similar to this (Bonaparte's Sandpiper, Tringa fuscicollis), which also 

 has white tail coverts, but which very seldom occurs. It has been 

 met with, however (as Mr. Cecil Smith informs me), four times near 

 Instow, North Devon ; three times in Scilly, and twice in Cornwall, 

 besides having been procured in Shropshire and Sussex, and once in 

 Ireland ; making its appearance generally in October. 



Rallid^3. 



Crex Pratensis. " Land Rail/' or " Corn Crake." Known by 

 everyone who has ever carried a gun in September. Some few 

 years ago there was a cry raised that these birds were deserting our 

 shores ; but I think without foundation. Their numbers vary from 

 year to year, very likely from natural causes, such as the shifting of 

 the wind at the precise time of migration, which may sometimes 

 cause them to act on the motto " Second thoughts are best," and so 

 stay on the other side of the water at the last moment. They are, 

 with the Turtle Dove, one of the assured harbingers of actual spring, 



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