68 More Tales of the Birds 



their quill feathers, and the little voices to gain 

 in strength and tone. And all this time the 

 sun shone and the river sang a quiet song, as it 

 slowly sank for want of rain, leaving new and 

 varied margins of sand and pebbles for the 

 Sandpipers to search for food. 



But one morning the sun did not greet them 

 as usual with his warmth ; the sky was grey 

 and streaky, and seemed to hang lower over 

 the hills than when it was all clear blue. At 

 first all was still and silent, but presently a gust 

 of wind came up the river, and then another 

 as suddenly came down, worrying the early 

 angler on the opposite bank, and teasing the 

 little Sandpipers as it blew their soft plumage 

 the wrong way. And then a large white bird 

 sailed gracefully up the valley, balancing itself 

 against the wind, to the great admiration of the 

 chicks. 



"That is a Seagull, children," said the mother, 

 "and you will see plenty of them when you 

 cross the sea to the warm southern lands for 

 the winter. And he is telling us that there is a 

 storm coming listen ! " 



