SEA THOUGHTS 



name. The wild-fowler knows from their cries how the 

 birds are occupied, distinguishing alarm-notes from 

 those of satisfaction, anger, or excitement over treasure 

 trove. One old-time punt-gunner speaks of the uproar 

 made by a suddenly startled flock of curlew as an out- 

 rage on the decencies of the night it spreads the alarm 

 for miles across the mud-flats. 



SEA THOUGHTS 



FEW save mariners know that nomad of the seas, the 

 stormy petrel, for when he does come to 

 Mother some of our lonely shores to make a nest 

 Carey's he proves himself a fly-by-night. This is 

 Chickens the midget of sea birds. Mariners say that 

 scarcely a day passes in any sea without 

 bringing its petrels to view. They dance as happily 

 under the crest of the wildest waves as they skim over 

 the glassy surface of an equatorial ocean, stretching 

 down one slender foot after another the while, as if 

 walking on water. And they seem to fly for ever without 

 tiring, by day and night, hovering to feed on the wing. 

 In the days of the wind-jammers they were famed for 

 the faithful way they followed one ship, in storm and 

 calm, giving comfort to the mariners, being birds of 

 good omen. 



GAYEST of all flowers of the beach is the horned poppy 



(so called from its foot-long pods) now 



The flaunting its golden, crumpled petals as near 



Seaside the sea as it dare venture, making splashes 



Poppy of sunshiny colour on pebbly shores and 



cliffs. For five Summer months it keeps its 



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