Patrolling the Beach. 



often killed and cast upon the beach^ 

 the American black and the surf scoters. 

 The male of the American scoter is 

 black all over, while the surf scoter has 

 white markings on the forehead, back 

 and sides of head. The white markings 

 of the males are repeated, although gen- 

 erally more or less restricted upon the 

 brown females. 



It is exciting work, this patrolling the 

 beach after a storm, with the tumult of 

 the elements about us and the zest of 

 new discoveries to urge us on. At any 

 moment we may happen upon some 

 rare form of bird life at our feet, some 

 creature which nature has ruthlessly 

 discarded, but which science may find 

 of great value. Even the bleached 

 bones of the victims of other storms 

 tell their story to him who is skilled to 

 read it, and a broken pelvis in the sand 

 may be full of interest and significance. 



Of all the discoveries I have made 

 along the ocean beach none have inter- 

 ested me more, I think, than that of the 



59 



