XVI 



WILD FOWL ON AN ESTUARY- 

 WINTER 



THE days are at their shortest. The plough- 

 man's gulls, those seaside clocks, leave for 

 the fields about eight in the morning, and return 

 about half -past three. All day long the sands are left 

 in possession of the black-headed gull, which is no 

 longer black-headed, and can only be distinguished 

 by his knowing look, his curious pattering run, 

 and his red legs. If the day is frosty the common 

 gulls do not leave; they seem to know that no 

 ploughing is going on, and that the fields are as 

 hard as iron. 



Once every day life is at a standstill. With the 

 full tide a silence comes over all, and a folding of 

 the wings. The various forms, that made the sands 

 so lively a while ago, have vanished as utterly as if 



they had gone out of existence ; and are doubtless 



264 



