2.H4 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



in the dark skies. Perhaps the stately lines of the mallards 

 may be discerned for a moment against some cloud-bank 

 ■ — wigeon never form line, but hurry out in confused 

 mass. Next to these come the mergansers, the first of 

 the "inward-bound " from the sea. They come singly, or 

 in twos and threes, flying- very close, as though linked 

 together, and at tremendous speed. Then the darkness 

 resounds with the vibrations of a thousand wings, as a 

 shapeless mass of godwits or knots rush past from inside, 

 or a string of oystercatchers pass overhead — all these 

 waders being - driven out as the sand-banks disappear 

 under the flowing- tide. The latter bear a strong- resem- 

 blance to duck as they file out in line on drooping- pinion, 

 and in the uncertain lig-fit many a "sea-pyot" has lost his 

 life, owing to this unfortunate similitude to his superiors. 

 The waders are not, of course, bound for the sea, but for 

 some extensive salt-marsh or sandflats they wot of along- 

 shore, where they can rest in security during high water. 



As the light gradually strengthens towards the dawn, 

 spectral forms loom silently overhead ; these are the big 

 gulls diligently searching the waters for their breakfast, 

 and the boisterous laughter of the small black-headed 

 gull resounds from the tideway beyond the bar. Early 

 one January morning a glaucous gull settled down on the 

 water close at hand, carried off one dead godwit, and 

 deliberately pulled another to bits. 



Next a grebe may come spinning along. Close to the 

 water he flies, and, considering the shortness of his wings, 

 at amazing speed. Then a few golden-eyes, usually 

 singly, and always very high, pass inwards. Meanwhile 

 the geese are on the move ; and, in the dim light sea- 

 wards, one descries, far away over the dark waters, what 

 might be the edge of a little cloud, or the smoke of a 



