414 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



geese loomed large, and were probably farther off than we 

 had calculated. 



The density of the fog relaxed a little as the sun rose, 

 and we proceeded on a cruise round the whole of the mud, 

 with the result of ascertaining that all the ducks (except a 

 few sheld-duck) had gone to sea at dawn. There only 

 then remained our friends the geese, to which we directed 

 our attention. Several times we advanced on their main 

 line, but with one unvarying result ; whether we paddled, 

 "poled," or sailed, the watchful fowl rose at (roughly 

 speaking) 600 to 800 yards — a distance at which one 

 might suppose a gunning-punt, end-on, would be abso- 

 lutely invisible. Each time we noticed our "pricked" 

 goose lagging behind, though he always managed to 

 rejoin his company. The sheld-ducks, too, proved quite 

 unapproachable, as is usually the case in mild weather. 

 Several small lots were busily feeding on mussel-scaps, 

 often in company with such unsuspicious fowl as oyster- 

 catchers ; but the ducks always had one sentry, bolt 

 upright, and ere the punt glided within 200 yards his 

 broad goose-like pinions were spread, and silently and 

 without a sign of warning they left their more simple 

 friends behind. 



By midday the tide was half-ebb, and the mud-banks 

 were reappearing. Simultaneously the wading-birds, in 

 their varied kinds, began to congregate from all sides. I 

 think I have never seen such immense quantities as we 

 had of these birds that winter. I hesitate to attempt to 

 estimate numbers, but may mention that a single flock (or 

 rather a cloud) composed chiefly of godwits and knots, 

 certainly extended to a quarter of a mile in length and 

 appeared to be about twenty-five or thirty birds abreast. 

 Its numbers can be roughly computed by my readers. In 



