WILD FOWL ON AN ESTUARY WINTER 277 



dispositions and aptitudes ; and recent experiments 

 show that they are as docile now as ever. 



Not that the estuary is without its birds of prey ; 

 but they are of the common sort. Hooded and 

 carrion crows exist during the winter, in about 

 equal numbers. In the grey morning they can be 

 seen scouting along the shore in search of the dead, 

 and scanning the estuary for the wounded. Already 

 before one can get along, unless he has spent the 

 night in the boat, every bone of every bird cast 

 ashore has been picked. This service ought, perhaps, 

 to be placed to their credit, as it certainly makes 

 the high -water mark sweeter, and the walk 

 pleasanter. But when we have called them 

 scavengers, we are afraid that we have given their 

 only title to honour. 



That Golden-eye, one winged in the twilight if 

 there is any twilight at that season and hoped 

 to pick up in the morning, has already been de- 

 tected by sharper eyes than his. The remorseless 

 foe has seen his advantage, and used it. 



When disabled prey are not to be had, he will 

 even stalk the capable, and may, occasionally, be 

 seen making the diabolic attempt to drown the 

 water birds in their own element. The great black- 

 backed gull is credited with swallowing the 



