i64 IN NORFOLK BY THE SEA 



animals can adapt themselves to adverse circum- 

 stances is sometimes very remarkably shown. Thus 

 it is a matter of common observation in this country 

 that rats and mice are among the very thirstiest of 

 creatures. Yet it is well known that a race of mice 

 supports itself and thrives among the stones of the 

 Egyptian desert. And Darwin long ago remarked 

 how "in Patagonia, even on the borders of the 

 Salinas, where a drop of fresh water can never be 

 s) found, excepting dew, these little animals swarm."* 



From the foot of the sandhills right away to the 

 creek by the town stretches the waste of marsh, which 

 at the high spring tides is greatly under water. There 

 was a timet when much of this was under cultivation. 

 But the sea found out a weak place in the sandhills 

 and flooded in ; yet still the remains of ridge and 

 furrow can be plainly seen. 



Many and varied are the flowers that grow upon 

 the marsh. In the softer places grows the glass- 

 wort X — the favourite food of the mallard — and every- 

 where, where the grass is short and dry, the 



* Journal of Researches, Edition 1890, p. 384 



f Probably during the great war, when wheat fetched 1005. 

 a quarter. 



J Salicornia herbacea 



