228 Among the Birds in Northern Shires. 



bably the most accessible locality and admirably 

 situated for studying all these birds within a very 

 small area. 



The bird-life at sea off our northern shires is 

 replete with interest at all seasons of the year. In 

 summer, in the neighbourhood of the great breeding 

 colonies of sea-fowl, the surrounding seas for many 

 miles are full of animation, the birds scattering from 

 these home centres far and wide in quest of their 

 finny prey. What a variety of birds we meet with 

 thus, each searching in its own peculiar way for 

 sustenance! How varied their actions; how diversi- 

 fied their habits and economy! In winter these 

 self-same waters are the home of countless birds that 

 migrate from arctic latitudes to spend that season 

 where food is ever plentiful and the water always 

 open. Hordes of Ducks and Geese swell the more 

 sedentary avine populations, or replace such species 

 as Terns, that migrate or wander south with the 

 approach of winter. Vast numbers of Divers and 

 birds of the Auk tribe move south to these seas 

 off the northern shires; Gulls in uncounted hosts 

 do the same. At varying distances from the land 

 armies of these sea- fowl migrate south in autumn 

 and north in spring; sometimes for days in suc- 

 cession Gulls or Skuas, Terns, Gannets, Guillemots, 

 and so on pass to and fro according to season, 

 these avine movements being on a much grander 



