MEDITERRANEAN NOTES 189 



creeks and backwaters, but almost entirely devoid of 

 bird life. We landed on the He Philippe and found a 

 beautiful bit of snipey, reedy ground, but we only saw 

 two of the desired birds, and only one shot was fired, 

 without result. Saw a itw fowl and other things." 



Santander 



" November 20th. Took cutter away up Ria de 

 Cubas in search of woodcocks. Not much luck, as, 

 though we found three, we only had a shot at and 

 killed one. A good many fowl, and mud birds about, 

 but very wide awake." 



^'■November 21st. Fine morning. Spent the day at 

 the harbour birds. The flat space inside sea at top of 

 harbour is now all wet and swampy, and swarms with 

 fowl of sorts." 



" November 22nd. Went and visited O'Connor's 

 sands for dunlin with some success, then Rio de Cubas. 

 Tried Bosque del Coronel : only saw one woodcock ; no 

 shot at him." 



" November 2\th. Squally gusts from south-west 

 but very warm. A flock of thirty wild geese seen." 



" November 26th. Wild windy morning, but fine 

 overhead and very warm. Started in steam launch 

 towing dinghy about 11.30 a.m. and proceeded up Curlew 



