WINTER BIRDS OF PASSAGE 181 



breeding-places chiefly off the Scottish coast and live a 

 roving sea-life till spring. Guillemots, razorbills, and puffins 

 rove off the coasts through winter in the same way; and the 

 little auks join them from their far northern breeding-places 

 within the Arctic circle. True sea-birds, none of them 

 willingly approach the shore ; but we see them cast up dead 

 on the beach after long spells of stormy weather, and they 

 are sometimes picked up far inland, when gales and thick 

 weather have confused and beaten them from their course. 

 Divers are more often seen close inshore, as well as out at 

 sea ; they nest in fresh-water lakes, and sometimes take 

 refuge on them in winter. The great northern and black- 

 throated species are more often seen in winter than the red- 

 throated, though the last-named is the commonest breeding 

 species in Britain, and the great northern diver does not 

 breed with us at all. Most of the divers seen in winter are 

 immature birds, and their species is difficult to distinguish ; 

 but they well display the characteristic build and habits of 

 their tribe as they urge their large and powerful bodies along 

 the sea, disappear for a long dive, and rise with long neck 

 and bill uplifted many yards distant from the point where 

 they disappeared. 



A peculiar view of migration is opened to observers on 

 the east coast of England. It is generally supposed that 

 a south-east wind sees the greatest movement, although 

 birds flitting from north-eastern Europe would appear to 

 prefer a slanting wind. Often there is a dreary undirected 

 drizzle prevailing, a condition of weather by no means to their 

 liking or benefit. They often tire and lag on their journey ; 

 many drop into the sea to perish, and others bewildered, like 

 mariners on an uncharted coast, drop wearily on ships, or 

 strike the lanterns of light-vessels, to be picked up in dozens 



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