MORE ABOUT FOWLING ON LONGSHORE. 303 



come thundering up to their utmost limit, nearly 

 reaching the base of the huge sea-wall. The fowl 

 have returned ; they are passing overhead from open 

 water, for it is far too rough for them to-night. 

 How they gabble and cry ! The moon is now 

 completely hidden ; unless the wind shifts and 

 clears all, we shall leave the beach : three times 

 have we been down with the spray drifting over 

 us. To and fro the birds are rushing, over and 

 through the very crests of the waves that leap in 

 thunder up the beach ; they are curlews, their wail 

 betrays them. It is not often they behave in this 

 way, but to-night they are as restless as the foaming 

 waters; sensitive creatures at all times they are. 

 All old seafaring men note the ways of fowl, those 

 of the waders particularly. One circumstance con- 

 nected with them I can well remember. For nearly 

 a day before one of the most disastrous gales of 

 many years, hosts of waders were shooting along 

 close inshore in long continuous lines. Where 

 they came from no man knew, or where they were 

 going to. Before the last great mob were out of 

 sight the gale burst in all its fury; it had been 



