104 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



adults, they may acquire bolder and more striking colora- 

 tion, but never again the perfectly even regularity of their 

 first dress. 



During the early part of July, starlings congregate in 

 enormous numbers — perfect clouds^ — on the open moors, 

 and (with bands of rooks) remain there, feeding on cater- 

 pillars and ripening seeds, for ten days or a fortnight. 

 But before the end of the month, every starling has 

 disappeared. 



July 8. — On Peel-fell, 2000 feet. The summit, a deso- 

 late plateau, half in England, half Scotland, is a regular bed 

 of cloudberries, the fruit, at this date, in its red-ripe stage. 

 It also grows on Deadwater-fell adjoining, and the kindly 

 shepherdess who gave me a cup of tea, said that, in good 

 seasons, they would gather for preserving 8 or 10 quarts 

 of "noops." The growth of blaeberry-ling on Peel-fell 

 is very beautiful — in parts almost supplanting the heather. 

 Cranberries also grow there. Young curlews were flying 

 in packs of twenty-five to fifty, and peewits in hundreds. 



The young black-headed gulls were first seen flying 

 about the river and lower grounds on July 10th. Many 

 of the old gulls are now losing- the black hood. On the 

 same date young blackgame were first seen on wing ; 

 and four days later, my dogs sprang a brood of young 

 wild-ducks, which could then fly a short distance. 



Any little 6-inch "spate" will now serve to bring up 

 bull-trout from the sea. The smaller came first ; so 

 strong, indeed, is the migratory impulse in these, that 

 fish up to 2 lbs. or thereby will manage to wriggle up 

 by night, even in waters of summer-level. 



Throughout July, waters permitting, the bull-trout 

 fishing is a feature of the season. Evening is the time 

 for this, and a 12-foot rod, with the smallest grilse-flies. 



