214 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



of North Sunderland and Berwick we shall find 

 another length of shore of great interest to the 

 ornithologist. Indeed between these two points 

 are situated the famous Fame Islands, the grandest 

 and most imposing haunt of sea-birds round the 

 entire English coast. On the mainland, nearly 

 opposite to the Fame Islands, there is a long reach 

 of sand dunes between the sea and the cultivated 

 land, and these are frequented by at least one bird 

 of exceptional interest. We may dismiss the Gulls 

 that beat along in restless flight, and pay small 

 attention to the Common Buntings that here justify 

 their name, and for the time being confine our 

 observations to the Sheldrakes that haunt this part 

 of the coast. These sand dunes are an ideal locality 

 for such a bird. Should the tide chance to be out, 

 more likely than not this species will be detected 

 upon them. It is a shy and wary fowl, though, and 

 we need the aid of our powerful binocular to bring 

 it within range of much detailed scrutiny. This 

 Duck is to our mind quite the handsomest of its 

 family in our islands, a combination of very pro- 

 nounced black, white, and chestnut, with a dash of 

 crimson and pink on bill and legs thrown in. You 

 may watch it thus through your glass walking in a 

 somewhat stately way, not waddling like a more 

 typical Duck; but should you attempt a much 

 nearer scrutiny the big bird unfolds its broad 



