308 ADVENTURES AMONG BIRDS 



conspicuous on the brown, level marsh. In two or 

 three minutes more the leading birds were directly 

 above the roosting-place on the flat sands, and at this 

 point they paused and remained stationary in mid-air, 

 or slowly circled round, still keeping at the same 

 height ; and as others and still others joined them, 

 the whole formation was gradually broken up, skeins 

 and phalanxes becoming merged in one vast cloud of 

 geese, circling round like a cloud of gulls. Then the 

 descent began, a few at a time detaching themselves 

 from the throng and sweeping obliquely downwards, 

 while others, singly or in small parties, with half- 

 closed wings appeared to hurl themselves towards 

 earth with extraordinary violence. This marvellous 

 wild wing display continued for four or five minutes 

 before the entire multitude had come to the ground. 

 Altogether it had been the most magnificent spectacle 

 in wild-bird life I had ever witnessed in England. 



It was not until all were down and invisible, and the 

 tumult of the multitudinous cries had sunk to silence, 

 that the wounded bird, after some moments of inde- 

 cision, first taking a few steps onwards, then returning 

 to the side of the redshanks, as if reluctant to part from 

 those little unhelpful friends lest he should find no 

 others, finally set off walking towards the sea. 



There were no gunners out on the shore at this 

 point just then and he would be able to reach the flock 

 in a little while, although he would not perhaps be able 

 to follow them to the farmlands on the morrow or ever 

 again. 



