MORE ABOUT FOWLING ON LONGSHORE. 285 



She makes as much noise as a Newfoundland dog 

 with her barkin' ; she ought to have her head blowed 

 off for it, that she did. There's jack-herns about ; 

 jest hear 'em raspin' their coughs out ! If we 

 knocks one of 'em over instead of a duck, it wun't 

 be much of a bite. Hear that ? " 



"Well, what is it?" 



"Why, that 'ere screamin' holler on the water; 

 there 'tis agin : you surely hears it now." 



Over the fast -flowing tide comes a cry which, 

 if once heard, is not soon forgotten. It is the half- 

 human cry of some sprat -divers exulting over a 

 good meal after the storm. Snipes pass over, not 

 quietly, but shouting their loudest, scape, scape, 

 skep, skep ! These birds are certainly full of con- 

 versation when feeding on the tide. The curlews' cry 

 is heard continually, whistle and wail, wail and 

 whistle, easily distinguishable above all the others. 

 A solitary oyster-catcher, so far as we can judge 

 from the notes, can be heard at intervals. A mixed 

 crowd of dunlins and sanderlings fly chattering by 

 us, very close as we know, though we cannot see 

 them yet. There are plenty of geese about also, 

 but as they can see in the dark, and according to 



