190 EXTRACTS FROM HIS WORKS [ch. yii. 
me to approach within ten paces, so that I could 
see them very distinctly. I was surprised to hear 
from them a very gentle warble, which was 
composed of feeble notes somewhat resembling the 
syllables pee-pee-pee, continually repeated, and 
with more frequency when the individuals came 
very near each other. These notes could not be 
heard at a greater distance than twenty yards, and 
would thus be entirely lost to the casual observer. 
All at once I heard a singular noise, which might 
be likened to a cough, shrill and feeble as it was, 
and presently found that it came from one which, 
having picked up something too large for its gullet, 
stood endeavouring to swallow it by repeated jerks, 
at each of which it emitted a sharp wheezing or 
hissing sound. The rest paid no attention to the 
distressed bird, which in about three minutes got 
the morsel down, and resumed its search. While 
thus busily employed, and quite regardless of me, 
although so near that I could see their little dusky 
eyes, and distinguish by its tints one individual 
from another, a sandpiper, Totanus hypoleucos , 
came silently gliding over them at the height of not 
more than three feet. It was beautiful to see how 
they all rose simultaneously on wing to the height 
of from two to four feet, and, finding that they had 
no cause of alarm, immediately re-alight. I now 
struck my note-book against my hand, when they 
all rose, but alighted about five yards off, and three 
of them came within ten paces of me. As nothing 
more was to be seen, I examined the marks made 
