BIRD-LIFE AT SEA. 259 



Of the various birds of the Duck tribe that 

 visit the coasts and seas of Devonshire, Tor Bay 

 has its fair share. There are physical conditions 

 that prevent this special locality from receiving 

 the visits of these birds in the enormous numbers 

 for which other and more favoured localities are 

 noted, still Ducks, Swans, and Geese are one of 

 the special features of the winter bird-life of this 

 part of the county. We have no mudflats in the 

 neighbourhood nearer than the estuary of the 

 Teign, no sand-banks nearer than Exmouth, whilst 

 large sheets of fresh water are entirely absent. 

 Another disadvantage is the very limited amount 

 of beach left exposed at high water, and another 

 and perhaps more important one is the great 

 amount of traffic on the waters of Tor Bay. 

 The large and important fleet of trawlers having 

 their headquarters at Brixham, to say nothing of 

 the numerous seine-boats and " hookers " attached 

 to Torquay, Paignton, and Babbacombe, are out 

 and about the bay at all hours and in most 

 weathers a fact in itself which robs these shy 

 birds of that seclusion in which they rejoice, and 

 which is so essential to their assembling in any 

 numbers. Then the poor birds are continual^ 



