2 
I’EEWIT. 
shortly after daybreak, seen these birds huddled together so closely on some point of land extending into 
the broad, that from one to a couple of hundred might have been stopped by the discharge of the punt gun. 
As winter advances, the numbers gradually fall off, and hut few are to be seen till shortly before the breeding- 
season. The lledshank is usually the earliest of the Waders to appear about the marshes surrounding the 
broads, followed, after an interval of some days, by small parties of Peewits. By the middle or latter end 
of April the majority have laid ; a succession of cold winds, however, frequently throws them back a week 
or tAvo. Though large numbers breed on the rush-marshes, a spot is almost invariably selected where the 
ground is bare with the exception of the short turf. By the end of July the young may be seen in large 
flocks. Immense numbers collect on the hills * round the broads in autumn, and remain shifting their 
quarters from one part of the marshes to another during open weather. Severe frost and snow, however, 
usually drives them to the sea-coast or the mudflats on tidal rivers or harbours. 
Eive and twenty years ago the Peewit was to be found breeding in considerable numbers in Pevensey 
level, but latterly they have deserted the district almost entirely, constant persecution undoubtedly being 
the cause. In the west of Sussex, between Shoreham and Lancing, several pairs used to nest annually on 
the fields and marshes near the coast; these birds, during the past two seasons, have for the most part 
changed their quarters, and now resort to the shingle-banks just above high-water mark. The nests are 
merely slight hollows scratched among the fine beach-stones, with now and then a strand or two of dead 
grass, the only signs of vegetation in their vicinity consisting of a few tufts of rank grass, a plant or two 
of the sea-campion {Silene maritima, more generally known as the catchfiy), and that pretty little red floAver 
so common in most country lanes. Geranium robertianum. 
Few birds exhibit greater anxiety Avhen their breeding-haunts are approached than the PecAvit; in 
almost every district their Availing cry Avill be heard long before their quarters are invaded. In many parts 
of Norfolk and usually in the more northern counties the Bedshank and PecAvit breed in company, the tAvo 
species frequently uniting in their endeavours to draw the intruder from the spot Avhere their offspring 
are concealed. On one occasion, while watching the movements of a newly hatched brood of doAvny young 
of this species on a small piece of marshy ground in Glenlyon, in Perthshire, I noticed the parent birds in their 
excitement repeatedly flying at and buffeting a pair or two of unoffending Bedshanks breeding in the same 
locality. No other instance of PeeAAuts conducting themselves so strangely has come under my observation. 
While out on Ilickling Broad early on the morning of the 10th of March 1873, my attention was 
attracted by the curious antics of a Peewit on one of the adjoining hills. Lying flat on his breast with his 
beak almost le\el AAith the ground, the bird AA^as apparently engaged in scratching out a site for a nest, 
turning lound fiom time to time as if on a piA'ot. It is probable, hoAA'Cver, from the manner in which 
he kept jerking his tail and spreading out his feathers, that it was simply the male bird showing himself 
off foi the admiration of the female, Avho Avas quietly looking on at a short distance ; for the following week 
I Avatched the same performance repeatedly by several males, and on examining the spots closely could 
find not the slightest signs of nests. 
While on the North Sea during October, I remarked large bodies of Peewits on two or three occasions 
making theii AAay stiaight for the shores of Norfolk or Suffolk. The birds usually fly slowly and steadily 
at some elevation, moving fonvard in three or four lines, each individual keeping its station with the 
utmost iCj^ularity. blocks numbeiing from three to five hundred Avould pass out of sight Avith hardly a 
change in their formation during the time they remained in view. As PecAvits on passage, however, only 
came under my observation in still Aveather or light favouring breezes, it is impossible to state Avhether 
the same order could be preserved in their ranks Avhen exposed to squalls or strong wind. 
In severe frosts during the depth of winter I have met with Peewits in Norfolk and Sussex following 
Hills must, of course, be taken in the Norfolk acceptation of the term — simply a marsh. 
