CONCLUSION 349 



that dot the Russian or Siberian steppes. Its shores 

 are peopled with myriads of aquatic birds belonging 

 to at least a score of different species, all living in 

 perfect peace — all protecting one another. For sev- 

 eral hundred yards from the shore the air is filled with 

 gulls and terns as with snowflakes on a winter day. 

 Thousands of plovers and sand coursers run along 

 the water-edge looking for food, whistling and en- 

 joying life. Farther out, a duck is rocking himself 

 on the crest of each wavelet, while flocks of casarki are 

 wheeling above the lake. Exuberant life swarms 

 everywhere. 



"And now come the robbers, the strong, shrewd 

 birds, that are ideally fitted for preying on the other 

 feathered species. We can hear their hungry, angry, 

 dismal cries, as for hours in succession they watch the 

 opportunity of snatching from that living mass one 

 single unprotected individual. As soon as they ven- 

 ture a little nearer, however, their approach is signalled 

 by dozens of volunteer sentries and hundreds of gulls 

 and sea swallows turn to repel the aggressor. Mad- 

 dened by hunger, the robber abandons his usual pre- 

 cautions ; he suddenly dashes into the living mass ; but 

 attacked from all sides, he is driven to retreat. From 

 sheer despair he throws himself upon the wild ducks, 

 but those intelligent and social birds quickly gather 

 in flocks and fly away if the aggressor is an erne ; or 

 they dive under the water if it is a falcon; or they 



