126 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



Tynemouth is very high and rocky, but about half a mile from 

 the mouth of the Tyne the cliffs become lower, and composed of 

 soil and clay and covered by grass, gradually sloping to the 

 shore, a long stretch of sand being exposed at low tide. These 

 conditions prevail for about half a mile, until Cullercoats is 

 reached, where the banks become steeper and rocky. The land 

 here goes out into a point, known as George's Point, which has 

 formerly extended for a quarter of a mile out to sea, as the 

 rocks at the extremity testify, and part of which are known as 

 the " Bear's Back," owing to their form. This point is, unlike 

 any other part of this coast, composed of an outcrop of yellow 

 sandstone. The coast-line then turns inwards, forming a small 

 bay, at the extremity of which is situated the village of Culler- 

 coats. 



During a high tide in stormy weather the water in this bay 

 is comparatively smooth, and consequently birds hard pressed 

 by the wind and waves seek refuge in it. On account of this, 

 and also because numbers of small fish frequent the waters 

 here, there is generally a bird visitor to be seen swimming 

 about and diving in all conditions of weather, even at the 

 present time. 



The shore then extends outwards, forming another point, 

 which is bold and rocky ; then gradually the rocks extend 

 inland, forming what are known as the " Table Eocks." Now 

 the cliffs, which have attained the height of about forty feet, 

 disappear at the town of Whitley, and low grassy links and 

 sand-banks take their place, with a stretch of sand about three 

 hundred yards wide before them. In former days this was a 

 favourite resting-place for the smaller migrants, among the 

 clumps of gorse, but now that promenades have been built along 

 the coast the birds prefer to move on without resting. About 

 half a mile along a small stream empties itself into the sea ; 

 this is known as the "Briar Burn." If we follow it up for 

 a short distance, as many a tiny bird migrant has done before, 

 we will find that it runs through a small valley studded with 

 clumps of gorse, thorns, and briars, from which latter it takes 

 its name. In spring it presents a very pretty sight, and one 

 which seems quite foreign to the adjacent surroundings of bricks 

 and mortar which have sprung up in the last year or two. 



