234 Among the Birds in N^orthern Shires. 



numbers. Occasionally during winter the rare King 

 Eider is detected in company with the commoner 

 species. The congregations of Brent Geese (in some 

 years but not in others) that assemble off the lower- 

 lying coasts especially are also a feature of winter 

 bird-life at sea. Indeed, we should state that the 

 latter season is by far the best for birds in such a 

 locality, for the land is then only visited under ex- 

 ceptional circumstances. Lastly, we might allude to 

 the Gannet. During summer this bird assembles at 

 a few recognized breeding-stations round the British 

 coasts, and here we hope presently to visit them; 

 but throughout the remainder of the year it is a 

 thoroughly pelagic species, and wanders south down 

 both east and west coast-lines to the English Channel 

 and even beyond. There are few more charming 

 sights amongst bird-life at sea than a company of 

 Gannets when fully on the feed. Sometimes they^ 

 may be watched from the shore, at others they 

 pursue their labours far out at sea. The way the 

 big white birds hurl themselves down into the water 

 from hundreds of feet above is most impressive, 

 especially if the sun is shining full upon them. Then 

 their magnificent powers of flight are very attractive 

 to us, as we watgh them by the hour together sailing 

 to and fro above the water at vast heio^hts on never- 

 tiring wings. 



Space forbids but a passing allusion to the bird- 



