250 SKETCHES OF BIRD LIFE. 



from the sea-wall, they appear to be all much of the 

 same colour, and are difficult to distinguish upon 

 the brown mud over which they are running. See 

 them in the air with upturned wings, and what a 

 different appearance they present. As the sun 

 strikes upon the pure white of the underparts borne 

 swiftly onwards by rapid wings, the eye is almost 

 dazzled at the bright contrast. Individuals are soon 

 lost to sight as they fly closer together, and the 

 entire flock, gradually lengthening out, sweep across 

 the harbour like a long wave, now light, now dark, 

 as the under or upper portions of the plumage are 

 presented to view. Naturalists who visit the sea- 

 side at the period of migration to which we have 

 alluded, cannot fail to admire the wonderful and 

 graceful evolutions which these birds perform upon 

 the wing ; whilst those who reside upon the coast 

 throughout the year must hail with satisfaction the 

 arrival of these feathered strangers, whose presence 

 adds so much to the beauty of the scenery, and 

 relieves, to such an extent, the monotony of sea 

 and sky. 



We have always had a partiality for "lang 

 nebbit things," as our Scotch friends call them, not- 



