150 Wild Birds and their Haunts 



dense mist veiled the twilight with a greyish mantle. I 

 made straight for the creek, in close proximity to the 

 more abundant widgeon-grass. I trudged onward, 

 ankle deep in shifting wet sand so recently washed by 

 the ebbing stream, the wreathing snowflakes the while 

 filling my eyes to smarting. 



Reaching an elevated bank I awaited the coming of 

 the birds. 



The snow now ceased, and the moon shone out in all 

 her brilliancy, casting a welcome beam athwart the 

 mudflats, and lighting up the foam-tipped water of the 

 estuary until it symbolized molten silver. I had not 

 been esconced long before the whistling of wings heralded 

 the approach of mallard, and a few moments later a nice 

 bunch of this species flashed through the monnbeams, 

 and passed clean over my head, on their way to feeding 

 grounds at the extreme end of the main estuary. The 

 ducks were evidently well within shot, and I had strong 

 temptation to deliver a right and left ; but then I was 

 after more important quarry, and these reports would 

 undoubtedly have scared bigger prey. 



Just now however the wind changed from a north- 

 easterly and piercingly cold, to a strong one from the 

 mainland ; and I knew that under such conditions the 

 geese would not be uncomfortably disturbed at my 

 reports. 



Indeed so bright was the moon that one was able to 

 distinguish the various species of waders, as they sur- 

 veyed the mud-flats, not a long distance from my hiding- 

 place. Various small colonies of mallard and curlew 

 passed within easy shot, but these I ignored, and they 

 were suffered to depart in peace. Above the various 

 calls I suddenly heard the welcome ' ' Torock, torock ! " 

 of brent geese, making straight towards me from the open 

 sea. Now was a time of excitement. I crouched down 

 and peered through the haze for the sight of fowl. 



"Torock, torock," came many times during the 

 process of waiting, as if the trumpet-majors of the brent, 

 like the sappers on an expedition, were clearing the way 

 for the host. 



