Among the Sea Birds 43 



protection. Visitors are not allowed to remain long 

 on any of the islands, but on that where the Terns nest 

 only a very short stay is permitted. 



Four species of this bird are found on the islands, 

 the most common being the Arctic Tern, whose head- 

 quarters are upon the Wide-opens and the Knoxes. 



These two islands are quite unlike the others in 

 character. The islet known as the Knoxes, for in- 

 stance, is quite low, except at one end, and is covered 

 with sand and pebbles. This island is almost sacred 

 to the Terns, which lay their eggs all over the place, 

 amongst the pebbles, or on the coast, and usually 

 without the slightest attempt at a nest. So close to 

 the edge of the water are the eggs placed that vast 

 numbers are destroyed every season when the wind 

 brings the waves a little higher than usual. 



Mr. Stanley Duncan, Hon. Secretary of the Wild 

 Fowling Association, in his interesting article on ' ' British 

 Wild Fowling and Pleasure Resorts," says : — 



" On journeying south from Berwick our first place 

 to stay, if desirous of shooting along Fenhamslakes and 

 Budle Bay, is Elwick, situated about two miles from the 

 north-west corner of Budle Bay and a mile from Fenham- 

 slake. Along this shore a shoulder gun wild fowler would 

 find, in suitable weather, many excellent fowl worthy of 

 much trouble to obtain. 



Widgeon are usually exceedingly numerous, especially 

 during hard weather, and mallards are often in as large 

 droves. Sometimes these birds flock upon the stake like 

 clouds or swarms of bees. To see them in such large 

 numbers is worth to a wild fowler all the time spent if one 

 should be so extremely unfortunate as to bag none, though 

 this would rarely happen to an average shot staying in 

 this neighbourhood for a few days when the birds are 

 there. 



Brent, too, are frequenters of this coast, at times in 

 myriads. The main portion of the brent are shot by 

 the punters, who, by the way, are in nearly all places, the 

 wild fowlers securing the ' ' cream of the fowl." As I take 



