24 A BIRD COLLECTOR'S MEDLEY. 



That evening we assembled for the last time as a family. I thought 

 father looked rather worried. He did not seem as proud as usual of his black 

 waistcoat ; in fact, he said he thought some collector was after him on that 

 account. Poor father ! he was right. The very next day he heard a brother 

 Dunlin calling from a white object floating in the estuary. Fond as ever of 

 society, he flew up gaily to make the new-comer's acquaintance. Twenty 

 yards off; alas! too late he recognised the fraud. The white object was a 

 boat, the call was being uttered by a boatman, and it was the wily collector 

 who greeted him with a dose of No. 8, and, as he carefully retrieved his body 

 from the water, remarked to his companion : " A good black-breaster for 

 September ; just beginning to moult his quill feathers ; I expect it's the one I 

 was pursuing the best part of yesterday afternoon." 



My brother too had a desperately near shave on the same day. He had 

 been pursued by a Peregrine, which missed him by an inch, as he skimmed 

 across the water, so violent being the stoop of the great bird that it was itself 

 for the time being almost totally submerged. 



Mother said that if we had to keep our eyes open for the Peregrine as well 

 as the shooters, life would not be worth living in the estuary. So we decided 

 to move on to warmer and less frequented abodes. Here we changed our 

 dress to a duller grey, and uniting with the remnants of other families formed 

 a huge flock, which except in very severe weather was almost unapproachable 

 by our foes. 



When spring appeared I began to grow a black waistcoat myself, and 

 became possessed at the same time of a desire to return to my native fells. 

 We set out in small parties of half a dozen, the journey being far less 

 dangerous than in the autumn. We were all strong of wing, the weather was 

 fine, and there were no shooters, and though one or two of our party lost their 

 lives by flying against telegraph wires, yet the bulk of us reached our breeding 

 ground in safety; and here I am just considering which young lady I shall pay 

 court to. But first let me see what these two men mean by intruding on our 

 preserves. Men don't carry guns at this season, and if they did, I remember 

 father said they dare not use them, so I may as well go and have a good look 

 at that very ancient Norfolk jacket that one of them is wearing. Ah ! they 

 seem to be admiring my black waistcoat. One of them lifts a spy-glass to 

 observe it better. O Chrysaetos ! 



