90 A HANDBOOK FOR SOUTHPORT. 



interesting one to record in the newspaper ; meanwhile, it is 

 incomparably better that we have the permanent and sub- 

 stantial reality of the presence of representatives of the best 

 of the genuine old " county families " the throstle, the little 

 dunnock, and the skylark. On a summer's morning, where 

 shall we look for sensations more delightful than are excited 

 by the little creature that " at heaven's gate sings ?" 



A charm from the skies seems to hallow us there, 



Which, seek through the world, you'll not meet with elsewhere. 



Many very interesting birds come as visitors also, in spring 

 and summer the swallow, the whitethroat, the yellow wag- 

 tail, the wheatear ; and, best of all because fitted by nature 

 to give pleasure to the largest number of people the cuckoo, 

 sweet magnet of the heart, as in May we tread the rising grass, 

 or wander amid the airy solitudes of the sandhills, which provide 

 epjoyment for all seasons, and in no way more bountifully 

 than through the medium of the birds. In winter, again, 

 there is an influx of visitors by no means inconsiderable, 

 these consisting chiefly of curious and uncommon shore- 

 birds, the variety of which belonging to the northern coast of 

 Lancashire, gives it very special attractions to the ornitho- 

 logist. Exposed to wind and sea-tempest, the shore, in 

 winter, often furnishes other very interesting specimens the 

 bodies of maritime birds that have succumbed to distress of 

 weather, and are tossed up like so much wreckage. The 

 puffin, the razor-bill, and the stormy petrel, in particular, are 

 thus made known to observers intent on such things. 

 Curious sea-birds also get captured sometimes by fishermen, 

 when far out upon the water, not uncommonly by entangle- 

 ment in their nets ; and these, when of eatable kinds being 



