62 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



lected in the fields, and along the hedges, near 

 the coast, consisting chiefly of larks, woodlarks, 

 grey linnets, chaffinches and yellow hammers. So 

 densely, indeed, were they crowded together that 

 they seemed to be almost blended into one vast 

 flock, which was continually reinforced by fresh 

 arrivals from the interior, while every now and 

 then a little male sparrow-hawk would suddenly 

 appear on the outskirts of the army, and dashing 

 into the midst, carry off with ease a starved and 

 half-frozen victim : indeed, at one moment I 

 observed several of these active little camp fol- 

 lowers all busily plying their trade at the same 

 time. 



Not far from the narrow entrance to the har- 

 bour I found a coastguard-man perched on the 

 summit of a mud wall, and attentively recon- 

 noitring some distant object through his spy-glass. 

 From this position he commanded an extensive 

 view of the haven which as it was now about 

 full tide spread like a great lake into the inte- 

 rior. The absence of large vessels, and indeed 

 of almost all kinds of sailing craft, from this 

 secluded spot, would at first strike a stranger 

 with surprize, but at low water the mystery 

 would be cleared up : the scene would then be 

 entirely changed : a great extent of flat mud 

 would be left by the receding waters, in the 



