366 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
often the case, after the first discovery, other nests were found 
every year. These charming visitors do not come alone; other 
northern beauties, in company with them, seek our protection. 
Snowy Owls (Schnee-eulen), with beautiful white feathers, which, 
unlike our Owls (Hulen), do not shun the sun, but hunt also in 
daylight. 
But now we have crossed the forest, and before us extends the 
coast of the Baltic and the broad shining sea, with its northern 
sea-visitors, which have already arrived in numbers. Quite a 
differently feathered world is here represented in various shapes 
and colours. Flocks of water birds float on the ice-cold waves, 
or fly singly or in flocks through the air. Close to the ice swim 
a flock of Long-tailed Ducks (Hisenten), called by the fishermen 
Klashanik, the coloured drakes with long tail-feathers. As soon 
as our boat approaches them they rise hastily, to return after a 
short flight to their native element. These sea-ducks, which 
breed in the north, are shot and caught in great numbers and sold 
at a very cheap rate for food; but, though prepared after the 
most approved rules of cookery, they always taste strong and 
unsavoury. Further on several snow-white Swans, so celebrated 
in poetry and song, float silently and gracefully in majestic beauty 
on the water at a safe distance from our guns; while towards the 
coast fly a skein of clamorous Bean Geese (Saatgénze), which 
have been feeding on the green winter corn. 
Ahead of our boat swim some slender-throated birds, which 
prove to be Red-throated Divers (Rothkehlige Histaucher). Our 
guns click, and all disappear below the surface ; one alone cannot 
follow, for his fate has overtaken him. These birds find their 
lonely breeding-places in Iceland, and other Arctic regions, in 
company with their two congeners, the Great Northern and 
Black-throated Divers. Some of these last-named birds, strangely 
enough, at one time did not quit the Pomeranian coast for the 
summer, but chose some lakes in the neighbourhood, which 
perhaps bore some resemblance to those in their more northern 
home. They breed there now every year, and are considered a 
great curiosity. But the report of our guns have made a stir 
amongst the other sea-fowl. Large and small flocks of different 
species of Ducks cross the water in all directions. Wild 
Ducks (Stokenten), Scaups (Bergtauchenten), Sheldrakes (Schel- 
lenten), Long-tailed Ducks (Hisenten), Pochards (Tafelente), with 
