BIRD-LIFE ALONG THE SHORE. 203 



with resistless fury. Brixham harbour is another 

 favourite place of congregation ; and we have seen 

 them there, and along the sandy reaches of the 

 coast round the bay, assembled in thousands drift- 

 ing about like a living snowstorm or standing in 

 dense masses. Large companies of Gulls often 

 settle upon the sands about low water, waiting 

 for the tide to turn, when they begin to feed, 

 and continue doing so until the flood. They 

 are also partial to congregating upon low reefs 

 of rock. There is a small reef in particular off 

 the Torr Abbey sands, visible at low water, upon 

 which these birds love to congregate, to rest and 

 preen their plumage. Favourite feeding places, 

 especially for the Herring Gulls, are at the various 

 sewage outfalls round Tor Bay. A few Herring 

 Gulls endeavour to nest in Tor Bay, but the great 

 breeding station is beyond Berry Head; of this, 

 however, more anon. The Terns are passing 

 migrants only, mostly keeping off shore, and 

 best described in our notes on bird-life at sea 

 (cf. p. 245). 



We may here call attention to the fact that 

 Rooks, Crows, and Jackdaws very often visit the 

 beach, and obtain a large amount of food from it. 



