24 A BIRD) COLLECTOR’S MEDLEY. 
That evening we assembled for the last time as a family. I thought 
father looked rather worried. He did not seem as proud as usual of his black 
waistcoat; in fact, he said he thought some collector was after him on that 
account. Poor father! he was right. The very next day he heard a brother 
Dunlin calling from a white object floating in the estuary. Fond as ever of 
society, he flew up gaily to make the new-comer’s acquaintance. Twenty 
yards off; alas! too late he recognised the fraud. The white object was a 
boat, the call was being uttered by a boatman, and it was the wily collector 
who greeted him with a dose of No. 8, and, as he carefully retrieved his body 
from the water, remarked to his companion: “A good black-breaster for 
September; just beginning to moult his quill feathers; I expect it’s the one I 
was pursuing the best part of yesterday afternoon.” 
My brother too had a desperately near shave on the same day. He had 
been pursued by a Peregrine, which missed him by an inch, as he skimmed 
across the water, so violent being the stoop of the great bird that it was itself 
for the time being almost totally submerged. 
Mother said that if we had to keep our eyes open for the Peregrine as well 
as the shooters, life would not be worth living in the estuary. So we decided 
to move on to warmer and less frequented abodes. Here we changed our 
dress to a duller grey, and uniting with the remnants of other families formed 
a huge flock, which except in very severe weather was almost unapproachable 
by our foes. 
When spring appeared I began to grow a black waistcoat myself, and 
became possessed at the same time of a desire to return to my native fells. 
We set out in small parties of half a dozen, the journey being far less 
dangerous than in the autumn. We were all strong of wing, the weather was 
fine, and there were no shooters, and though one or two of our party lost their 
lives by flying against telegraph wires, yet the bulk of us reached our breeding 
ground in safety; and here I am just considering which young lady I shall pay 
court to. But first let me see what these two men mean by intruding on our 
preserves. Men don’t carry guns at this season, and if they did, I remember 
father said they dare not use them, so I may as well go and have a good look 
at that very ancient Norfolk jacket that one of them is wearing. Ah! they 
seem to be admiring my black waistcoat. One of them lifts a spy-glass to 
observe it better. O Chrysaetos ! 
