OCT. A WALK ALONG THE COAST, 19 



Every day too has its interest in the eyes of the 

 dweller on this coast, for the arrivals and departures 

 of different birds are unintermitting. An infinite 

 variety of wild fowl come over from the north and 

 north-east, while our summer visitants, such as the 

 landrail, cuckoo, swallow, and most of the insect- 

 eating birds, disappear. One of my most favourite 

 walks is along the coast, beginning at the mouth of 

 the river and following the shores of the bay till I 

 reach the open firth ; then after continuing along 

 the beach for three or four miles, I return through 

 the wild uncultivated ground which divides the 

 sea-shore from the arable lands. At this season 

 the variety of birds which are to be seen in the 

 course of this walk is astonishing. Starting from 

 home soon after sunrise, with a biscuit in my pocket, 

 my gun or rifle on my arm, and my constant canine 

 companion with me, I am independent for the day. 

 Bright and bracing is the autumn morning ; the robin 

 sings joyously and fearlessly from the topmost twig 

 of some rosebush, as I pass through the garden, 

 whilst the thrushes and blackbirds are busily em- 

 ployed in turning up the leaves which already begin 

 to strew the walks as they search in conscious secu- 

 rity for the grey snails, repaying in kind for the 

 strawberries and cherries they have robbed us of; 



