OBSERVED IN' HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1889. 
95 
To the sportsman who is also something of a naturalist, the daily- 
habits of the birds he seeks are of great interest, especially in the 
autumn season, when a complete change is adopted by them in the 
localities they affect, in their food, and in their mode of life 
generally. I spent some months this autumn in Scotland, in 
Kincardineshire, on the banks of that beautiful river, the Dee, 
when I had ample opportunities of observing these birds. 
In August and September the peewits flew about in small flocks; 
they were comparatively tame, and not infrequently afforded a few 
shots. In October they joined their forces, and sought their food 
in vast flocks, numbering, I suppose, many thousands; they were 
then very shy and kept themselves generally at a safe distance. 
By the end of October they commenced their southward flight, 
though many remained behind. No doubt, by this time, detach¬ 
ments have arrived in this neighbourhood. In August, the wild 
ducks, old and young, frequented the almost impenetrable beds 
of bulrushes which surround the lakes, out of which, driven by 
dogs, they gave excellent sport. Later on they adjourned during 
the daytime to the open water, where, in company with teal, 
golden eyes, and pochards, they dozed away the time until 
feeding-hours arrived. They were then very wary, and difficult 
to approach. As the winter advances they adjourn to the sea 
and seek their food on the flats and marshes which in many parts 
fringe the shore. Wood-pigeons, which, singly or in small com¬ 
panies, frequently passed over my head on their way to or from 
the cornfields, in August and September, like the peewits, congre¬ 
gated in October in vast flocks, and kept far too good a look-out to 
allow of approach. The object of birds in congregating as so many 
do in winter, is, no doubt, mutual protection. Without believing 
the stories of “ Sentries ” being “ posted ” by rooks or other birds 
where great flocks are assembled, we may conclude that there must 
always be some in a position to detect the approach of danger, and 
to warn their companions. On the river-bank, up to the middle of 
September, we had many oyster-catchers, stints, and sandpipers. 
As autumn advanced, all left us, and sought the sea-shore, 
where they will remain until pairing time next spring. 
Whilst waiting for the wood-pigeons I could not but note the 
regularity of the time in which they and other birds seek their 
roosting-places, or their feeding-grounds. First the rooks would 
come, in long array, the flocks stretching for miles. Until they 
appeared, no pigeons would arrive; but with the first detachment 
of the former, the latter might be looked for with certainty, and 
flying as they do at a considerable height they afforded very pretty 
shooting. The ducks would succeed the pigeons, seeking their 
food in the stubbles where the pigeons had been gleaning during 
the day. Gulls fly home rather earlier than the rooks. The 
manner of feeding in these birds is essentially different. Pigeons 
settle in a circle and advance across a field in a semi-circle, each 
bird, in turn, flying up and settling in advance of the leaders, 
thereby securing an equally fair chance of picking up food. Ducks 
