194 STRA Y FEA THERS FROM MANY BIRDS. 



twine of the nets cannot withstand the great force of a 

 flock going at full speed. It is worthy of remark that 

 the Woodcock is very rarely taken in the flight nets. 

 This bird migrates at a gieat height in the air, and 

 when its journey over the sea is completed it drops 

 down on to the dry land almost perpendicularly. But 

 such birds as Owls evidently fly low, at all events when 

 nearing land, and are entangled in the nets just at the 

 moment the poor birds think they are safe on dry land 

 at last. Our morning's experience, however, has been 

 an exceptionally good one, for very often the nets do 

 not catch a single bird for days and days together. 



On our way back from the nets we meet with several 

 interesting birds. A Great Gray Shrike is sitting on the 

 top of a stunted thorn bush evidently considering his 

 position, and wondering however he lost his way and 

 reached England instead of Africa. A Little Gull also 

 flies steadily along the coast, passing south lost like 

 the Shrike, having crossed the German Ocean needlessly 

 on its southern journey from the lakes of Russia. Vast 

 numbers of Hooded Crows are now on the newly-sown 

 corn fields, and as we pass a stagnant pool below the 

 sea bank on the landward side, a Great Crested Grebe 

 rises hastily and flies startled away. Near the sluice 

 gates, where the drainage from the fields is let off into 

 the marshes, we are gladdened by the sight of several 

 Kingfishers. I am of opinion that these birds are 



