294 ANNALS OF BIRD LIFE. 



winter the Wood Lark is gregarious, and often 

 mingles with the larger gatherings of Skylarks. 

 When flushed, these birds often take refuge in a 

 tree ; they live principally on small seeds at this 

 season. 



Far out at sea there is much of interest to be 

 seen among the birds. Many are the species 

 gathered together where the shoals of fish are 

 numerous. The rock-birds, such as Guillemots, 

 Razorbills, Black Guillemots, and Puffins, wander 

 long distances from the places where they breed, 

 following the fishing fleets, and taking their share 

 of the harvest of the sea. All the winter through 

 these birds remain off our British coasts, leading 

 a nomad life, until the grand reunion in the spring 

 at the great breeding stations. At this season, 

 too, the Great Northern Diver wanders south- 

 wards, and may often be seen frequenting estuaries 

 and quiet bays. Many of these birds are only 

 seen in our southern seas during winter. They 

 live in the Arctic regions, or in the extreme 

 northern portions of the kingdom, and go back 

 again to their summer haunts at the earliest dawn 

 of spring. Sometimes these birds fare badly 

 during the wintry gales, and I have known the 

 shore for long distances strewn with their bodies 

 after unusually boisterous weather. At this season 

 we have also a great many favourable opportuni- 

 ties for observing the habits of many species of 

 Ducks which only visit this country during the 

 winter. Both at sea and on the inland sheets of 



