WILDFOWL OF THE NORTH-EAST COAST 285 



distant steamer, as they go through their matutinal evolu- 

 tions preparatory to "coming inside." For some ten 

 minutes these evolutions continue, and in the increasing 

 light the forms of their dense columns become gradually 

 discernible, gyrating rapidly to and fro beyond the line of 

 breakers to seaward. Presently, rank after rank, they 

 head up for the harbour, always high in air, unless 

 half a gale blows right in their teeth, and pass up 

 the channel, clanging down, as it were, a glorious 

 defiance to man to do his worst. As daylight becomes 

 fully established, there appear the weird-looking divers 

 {Colymbi), usually the last, or perhaps an unwieldy 

 cormorant brings up the rear ; and now the rim of 

 the sun appears above the eastern horizon, and one 

 lingers a few minutes longer while the eye revels in 

 the gorgeous hues and lovely effects of a sunrise over 

 the sea. 



Such, in rough outline, is the "morning flight," as 

 it may be observed on any winter's dawn at a well- 

 frequented resort. The fowl pass in and out pretty 

 regularly in something like the order named, and to 

 a lover of bird-life the whole scene is delightful and 

 interesting. In addition to the species named, various 

 others may be observed, according to locality. Thus, 

 for example, the grey-geese pass certain points as 

 regularly as dawn and dusk come round. The par- 

 ticular harbour the writer has in his mind's eye in 

 describing the above, does not happen to lie in their 

 line of flight, though they pass regularly over a point 

 only a few miles distant. 



Apart from the charm of observing these wild 

 creatures, there is but little tangible reward, for it is 

 seldom that any of the more desirable fowl pass over 



