cr/tn-'W*^^ 



196 OXFORD: THE UPPER RIVER 



another world, and a kingfisher has carried off a 

 ^/ . gu dgeon. And then all of a sudden, with a rush and 



a dash, a great spiny perch comes charging along, 

 scattering the shoal in all directions, and when it 

 closes up again there is a further gap in its numbers. 

 There are many other enemies, and one that comes 

 from far. When the common terns are moving 

 it K overland on their way to nest by other waters, and 



when they are going back again, one or two will stay 

 behind and fly sometimes for a couple of days 

 together up and down this favourite reach. Very 

 lovely they look, these white sea-swallows, and just a 

 little strange, like angels " visiting the green earth " ; 

 they seem to bring a sound of far-off breakers, and it 

 is hard at first to recollect that this is big Port 

 ^ Meadow, and we but half a mile from Medley 



Lock. 



Have you ever seen tame geese fly? Not more 

 than a few yards at a time, perhaps. Well, then, 

 these Port Meadow geese can fly almost the whole 

 length of the meadow without once touching ground. 

 You may see them do it almost any evening. 

 Use has kept their muscles trim. Darwin has 

 told us how the vultures flock to their prey from 

 amazing heights, each taking his cue from the next 



