278 WILD LIFE OF SCOTLAND 



wounded birds without taking the trouble of 

 picking them. 



Hard weather greatly increases the variety of 

 estuary life. The green plover seldom absent 

 comes down from the frozen fields in larger flocks. 

 The golden plover appears from his devious flight 

 over the Lowlands. The snipe deserts the frozen 

 marshes for the softer mud flats ; and a little later, 

 when the frost has had time to creep in under the 

 shadow of the birches, the woodcock follows from 

 his winter home in the copse. A busy gun can 

 make a rich and varied bag. 



Small birds innumerable are driven down all, 

 perhaps, except the seed birds, which are seldom at 

 a loss ; with the hedge- warbler, the robin, and the 

 ousel, which in their various spheres can manage 

 to pick up a living until sometimes it is hard to 

 tell what kinds are there ; still harder to tell what 

 kinds are absent. 



No scene in nature that I am acquainted with 

 is richer in possibilities of observation, or sport 

 than the winter estuary; except, perhaps, that 

 twin scene, the winter loch. The two have very 

 much in common. Wild duck retire indifferently 

 to both for their daily siesta ; and rise indifferently 

 from both when twilight summons them to their 



