564 The Water-fowl Family 



When all these, with the herons, bitterns, and 

 snowy egrets that winter here and the vast troops 

 of ducks that, out on the gulf, cover thousands of 

 acres or sweep in great clouds across the shim- 

 mering surface, unite in the field of vision, even 

 the tenderfoot will lay down his gun and look in 

 amazement, while the expert will hardly think of 

 taking it up. All ideas of shooting are lost when 

 one looks down the miles of moving specks along 

 the shore that twine and intertwine in a million 

 curling lines, while from the water comes the roar 

 of as many wings, all in one dark haze that shuts 

 out the sky beyond. 



