WILD LIFE IN SEVERN ESTUARY 8 



of inland streams which have carried their waters 

 hither through the mud to the open sea. Following 

 one of these natural creeks for a space, we leave the 

 splash of the waves gradually behind us ; as the 

 boat grounds again the eye travels over the scene 

 in search of details, while the ear in the seeming deep 

 silence begins to pick out the sounds that reach 

 it. 



The night-feeding birds which have followed the 

 retreating tide are still scattered upon the flats in 

 large numbers, and the eye soon begins to distinguish 

 the masses of black and white plumage and the 

 specks of grey upon the brown expanse. A flock 

 of gulls are surrounding some object in the immedi- 

 ate foreground and the barking, musical and goose- 

 like notes of the larger birds come clear across the 

 air with an indescribable suggestion of solitude and 

 unlimited open space in the sound. A dead steer 

 from a trans-Atlantic cattle-ship has been cast up 

 by the waves and the birds are feeding upon it. 

 Those of the smaller species stand in the background, 

 only helping themselves as they may ; for the 

 larger kinds are the masters at these feasts. 



We have come too near ; a restless air has taken 

 possession of the birds. A single black-backed 

 gull resenting the intrusion sails majestically away 

 seawards. A herring gull with pinions wide out- 

 spread circles and soars upon the breeze close over- 

 head, directing a searching black eye of inquiry and 

 protest upon us. The gleam of the sun on the wet 

 surface underneath is reflected upwards upon the 

 white plumage immaculate. There is no stain of 

 mud ; and no taint even of the recent feast upon the 

 glorious yellow beak. These are birds in full plum- 



