252 WITHIN AN HOUR OF LONDON TOWN. 



running on the edge through the blite. When we 

 reached him, there sat " Billy " in the ooze, com- 

 pletely smothered in it, his " weskit " unbuttoned, 

 and the worsted stockings hanging over his knees 

 in the most comical manner. The gun he held 

 upright, " To keep her out o' mischief," he said. 



" She ain't hurt, I ain't hurt; she did kick, thet's 

 how my weskit got loose. I'd 'a had him all right 

 if it waun't fur that cuss'd yelper of a redshank, as 

 made him git up afore I wus ready-like. Them 

 yelpers is the wust birds livin'." 



The curlew is a most interesting bird, see him 

 where you may, on some upland with the sheep, 

 in the grass-meadows, or on the shore, when huge 

 dark storm-clouds roll in from open water, a gale 

 blowing, and the white parts of his plumage showing 

 like large snow-flakes as he and his companions are 

 driven shrieking and wailing in all directions ; or in 

 the calm, still days of early autumn. As I lazily 

 drifted down the swale in a fishing-smack I have 

 watched him probing for lug-worms, running nimbly 

 or walking sedately on the mingled sand and ooze. 

 When the birds are feeding you can get a good view 

 of them on either side, if you conceal yourself in 



