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again almost perpendicularly to rise afresh a few yards further on. 
On the sea side lies the usual bed of shingle, on the river side a 
level tract which is a beautiful estuary at high water, a dreary 
marsh and mud flat when the tide is out. Dreary to one uninter- 
ested in natural history; not so to the naturalist, for the whole 
place teems with bird life. The Wheatear and the Titlark flit from 
every tussock, alighting again close by as if tempting you to follow. 
The Peewit wheels and tumbles overhead uttering her perpetual 
plaint. The shrill rattling whistle of the Oystercatcher is heard 
nearer and nearer as the uneasy bird circles round, loudly pro- 
claiming the near vicinity of her nest. A Heron, till now erect 
and still at the waters edge, marks the warning note, sharply turns 
his head, and then flaps heavily away. Another follows, and 
another, perhaps half a dozen. High over head cross and recross 
the noisy Blackheaded Gulls. We proceed further over the sand 
hills. As we top one of the ridges, out impetuously dashes a 
startled Stock-dove almost under our feet from her nest in some 
deserted rabbit-hole. The rabbits themselves scatter in all 
directions. As we come in sight, the gulls get noisier and come 
nearer, and we are soon in the midst of the gullery. Nests lie 
thick on the ground, containing eggs and young in all stages. The 
old birds are nearly frantic, hundreds are now whirling round only a 
few yards off, incessantly cawing ; and if you stoop over a nest, the 
owner of it will swoop by almost within reach of your hand. 
Mingled with them are birds of smaller size and still more elegant 
flight. The Common Tern or Sea-Swallow, and the still smaller 
and more beautiful Lesser Tern, are both there careering and 
screaming like the gulls. The eggs of both are to be found, but 
require more looking for than those of the gulls, especially the 
Lesser Tern, which lays it eggs on the bare shingle. 
The Ringed Plover too, very difficult to see against the sand 
and stones, is heard piping; and as we look down the river we see 
two or three pair of the loveliest of our wild ducks, the Shelldrake, 
flying up stream conspicuous by their brilliantly-coloured plumage. 
High up and far out of range floats a solitary Great Black-backed 
Gull, croaking hoarsely, and the other smaller and commoner 
