124 KINGSBRIDGE 



says, "as the animal becomes sickly by keeping for some 

 days in sea water, it frequently discharges a most beautiful 

 purple liquor. This circumstance was known to Plancus, 

 who observes that it is one of those shells which yields 

 the purple dye of the Mediterranean." 



Kingsbridge Estuary is full of interest to the student in 

 natural history. Amongst the feathered tribes almost every 

 genus has its representative, either as an inhabitant, or an 

 occasional visitant. In winter these sheltered waters become 

 the rendezvous of a great variety of birds. 



Many different kinds of gulls may be seen, preening 

 their delicate plumage, and enjoying the still, cold water, 

 or standing in groups on the shore, making the most 

 entertaining noises. Did you ever listen to them holding 

 forth in one of their conventicles ? (for they, too, frequent 

 the Salt-stone). If not, you have missed one of the most 

 amusing sounds of the sea shore. Frequently, herons are 

 seen, stalking silently about in search of their slippery 

 prey; while flocks of tringa are coursing over the mud 

 when the tide is low, industriously foraging for their daily 

 food; streams of wild ducks vary the scene; and to crown 

 all (if the weather is very severe) the Hooper, or wild 

 swan, with its snow-white plumage, and its gracefully- 

 arching neck, may be seen sailing along.* 



Various sorts of fish are caught in the estuary, such as 

 millet, bass, eels, dabs, smelts, and mackerel. About sixty 

 years since, a large shoal of porpoises were seen rolling 

 up past Salcombe, apparently in hot pursuit of some of 

 their favourite prey (probably mackerel). It was about 



* Mr. Henry Nicholls lias kindly furnished a list of birds which have 

 been found in the neighbourhood ; and also of butterflies. Both will be 

 found at the end of this book. 



