312 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



on the bosom of some salt aestuarial water as Lake Lothing 

 the cold and biting snow and hail beating down on their 

 glossy backs. But what would you ? Tis better than being 

 upon the stormy grey sea. 



The saddle-back gulls, too, great and small, are to be seen 

 often in the spring and summer; nor do they stop long on 

 the waters, merely coming in to wash and drink, and do a 

 little poaching, ere they return to the sea their home. 



None of these birds are to be seen for long on the broad, 

 nor have I seen any of them following the plough as poets 

 have written. The " gull " that follows the plough is the 

 "puit," or " puit-gull," * for they love worms as dearly as a 

 gull loves a shrimp. 



But ever welcome are the strong bright gulls, with their 

 flashing bodies and wild sea-cries birds cradled upon 

 the blue sea, upon whose restless bosom they must seek 

 their living or perish birds into whose bodies the spirits of 

 the Norfolk sailors used to go fishermen's brothers, since 

 their old men are " tarned ter gulls " for ever doomed to 

 rove the restless deep brave, and hardy, and free ! 



* Not "pewit-gull," as Mr. Saunders writes it. 



HERRING-GULL'S NEST AND EGGS, (Yorkshire.) 



