WILDFOWL OF THE NORTH-EAST COAST. 159 



First to move are the Mallards, then the Wigeon ; both of 

 these, in winter, go out to sea before a symptom of daylight 

 has appeared. They are only recognizable by their well- 

 known notes (if uttered), or by the resonant swish, swish of 

 their strong pinions, distinctly audible far up 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 a 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 a tremen- 

 dous speed. Then the darkness resounds with the noisy 

 vibrations of a thousand wings, as a dense, shapeless mass 

 of Godwits or Knots rush past from inside, or a string of 

 Oyster-catchers pass overhead — all these waders being driven 

 out as the sand-banks disappear under the flowing tide. The 

 latter — Sea Pyots as they are called — bear a strong resem- 

 blance to Duck as they file out in line, and in the uncertain 

 light many a one 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 sand- 

 flats they wot of along shore, where they can rest in security 

 during high water. 



As the light gradually strengthens towards the dawn, 

 great spectral forms loom silently overhead ; these are the 

 big gulls diligently searching the waters for their breakfast, 

 and the boisterous laugbter of the small Black-headed Gull 

 resounds from the tideway beyond the bar. Early one 

 January morning a huge Glaucous Gull settled down on the 

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

 deliberately pulled another to bits — two out of half a dozen 

 that had just fallen to Mr. Crawhall's gun. 



Next a Grebe may perhaps come spinning along. Close 

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

 wings, at an amazing speed. Then a few Golden-eyes, 

 usually singly, and always very high, pass inwards. Mean- 

 while the Geese are on the move ; and, in the dim light 

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

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



