also, I saw, sailing majestically in the upper 

 reaches of the sky, a buzzard — a sight rather rare 

 in these latitudes. 



For a moment, I stood, admiring, engrossed, 

 watching it as it started to describe the great 

 spirals by which it slowly and seemingly without 

 muscular movement descends . . . Not hesitat- 

 ing to gather together my camera and other collect- 

 ing accessories — an operation usually merely me- 

 chanical, when I go on a beach exploration — I was 

 off immediately in the dinghy which is always re- 

 tained in readiness a few yards from my door. 



My arrival at the scene was obviously discon- 

 certing to the birds, for they flew away in flocks; 

 but to me it was a promising event. For here I 

 came upon a find of the very first order. It was as 

 I had anticipated — the birds' behavior did not 

 belie them: a windfall, so to speak, had been 

 thrown up on the shore by the waves, and was left 

 stranded by the receding tide. Yet it was of such 

 a nature that even I, accustomed as I was to sur- 

 prises continually experienced in my contacts with 

 the creatures of the sea, could hardly suppress a 

 gasp of astonishment. 



It was a frog-fish, or angler, a species of Lophius, 



[6] 



