Birds of the Sea- Shore 



to find the shore safer than the grouse moors after 

 the shooting season has commenced, and join in the 

 work of scavenging. You cannot confuse the 

 two species, for the Hooded Crow is easily 

 distinguished by its dark slaty-grey nape, back, 

 and underparts, even at a distance, and it seldom 

 allows anyone to steal on it unawares. At the 

 least attempt they make off with a hoarse croak 

 of derision, which mingles not unpleasantly with 

 the whistling notes of the shore-birds, and all seems 

 perfectly in keeping with the flat, open, wind-swept 

 sea-board and the never ceasing monotone of the 

 surf. 



NOTE. The illustration of the Dotterels, facing page 84, 

 serves well to give the reader a general idea of the shape of 

 many of the shore birds especially of the Plover family, to 

 which indeed they belong. The Dotterel is a summer migrant 

 and used to breed on the Cumberland hills, but the demand for 

 its feathers for fly-fishing has practically if not entirely banished 

 it from that locality. It still holds out in some of the mountain 

 ranges of Scotland. 



109 



