xii. INTRODUCTION 



Practical A few practical hints, from personal experience, may here 

 hints. k e given as to the manner in which birds may be most 

 readily observed in their natural haunts, and, if necessary, 

 collected. A powerful binocular with a wide field of vision 

 is essential, as by far the greater number of sea-birds will 

 not admit of near approach and inspection, at all events in 

 the absence of cover. In their breeding-haunts most species 

 can be watched at a few yards' distance ; otherwise, only 

 under exceptional circumstances, as when immature birds 

 first reach our shores in early autumn and are unsuspicious 

 of the prowling gunner, can one get close enough on the 

 open strand to make accurate observations with the naked 

 eye. When watching birds on the slob-lands, it is most 

 important that one's dress should harmonise as nearly 

 as possible with the natural surroundings, and when walking 

 over the beach an apparently unconcerned gait should be 

 assumed. Many birds become accustomed to the presence 

 of cockle-pickers and cinder-gatherers, and can well dis- 

 tinguish between those persons who have no idea of 

 harming them, and the gunner who lurks about intent on 

 destruction. 



The keen sight possessed by birds for distant objects is 

 remarkable. When the observer descries a large flock in the 

 distance, resembling at first a puff of smoke moving rapidly 

 along the horizon, he should crouch low and remain perfectly 

 still until a rush of wings tells him that the flock is passing 

 overhead. Should the tide be ebbing and should he have 

 selected a favourable position, the flock may swoop down 

 and alight quite near him. I have often baffled birds by 

 doubling myself into such curious attitudes that they 

 probably mistook me for some inanimate object, such as 

 an old hamper or a piece of sacking washed ashore, and 

 by this means I have found myself surrounded by great 

 numbers busily pattering about in search of food (Plate I., 

 Frontispiece). 



Some of the carrion-feeding species which haunt our 

 shores, and are seen hovering suspiciously over a stranded 

 carcase before alighting to feed, may be brought within 

 sufficiently close range for their habits to be studied, by 

 the observer feigning death. By lying flat on my back 



