WiLtp-Fowt or WILp-FowL 
and, clad in white, build ice-stands along the edge 
of the channel, and shoot large numbers of the 
unwitting fowl that follow the lane of water. 
The coastwise spring migration becomes appar- 
ent during the last half of March, reaches its height 
in the first half of April, and is practically over early 
in May, the procession ending with large loitering 
hocks of the Scoters, late breeders as they appear 
to be. Inthe return flight of autumn flocks of male 
Scoters will put in an appearance as early as the lat- 
ferepanteOmeAueust. Lhen im September some iol 
the young appear, but there are no great numbers 
till October, and not till nearly November, or until 
the frosts become severe, do some of the hardier 
sea) Mucks and the Geesevarmve. here are consid- 
erable differences in their manner of migration. 
Most of them, it is true, follow the coast line, but 
individual flocks keep just out of gunshot from the 
shore, while others fly miles from land. ‘The direc- 
tion of the wind has much to do with this. With a 
strong wind blowing on shore, most of them fly 
close in, while on calm days they are apt to be far out. 
Moreover, some species, as the Scoters, Oldsquaws 
and Eiders, ordinarily fly low over the water, though 
they often will rise if they suspect danger, while the 
Mergansers, Scaups, Golden-eyes or ‘‘ Whistlers,’’ 
and most of the others, are apt to fly high. 
Conditions of wind have also much effect upon 
the number of fowl to be seen in migration, even 
in the height of the season. Some days almost no 
birds are seen, while on others thousands are 
passing. ‘The strengthening east wind preceding a 
storm is a great time for a flight. An east wind is 
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