178 MR. J. J. hill's report of 



dark greens and blues mingled with the whites of the 

 breakers, and the bright sun of noon tempered by a slight 

 haze, gave a delightful opalescence to the picture. Within 

 the bar on the deep water of the river, a cormorant fished ; 

 and just outside beyond the breakers a number of gannets 

 ranged and dived for their prey, emerging from the water 

 with their dripping plumage flashing brilliantly white in 

 the sun. 



Along the rocky part of the coast approaching Hamburgh, 

 several groups of eiders were seen close to the shore, and 

 further out a number of other duck, including scoter. On the 

 inner fringe of the rocks an occasional wagtail was seen, 

 together with a few stonechats in their handsome array of 

 chestnut and black. 



Just on entering Hamburgh, the discovery of masses of an 

 unusual plant in full bloom on the dunes somewhat non- 

 plussed us. One's first impression was that the plants might 

 have been escapes from a neighbouring garden ; and although 

 our botanists were unable to determine the origin of the plants, 

 they were satisfied in identifying them as soap-wort, .S^i'/^?;;^?/-/^ 

 officinalis. 



Only a short halt was made at Hamburgh, after which the 

 party crossed the sand-dunes, and regaining the shore 

 traversed the firm stretch of sands to Seahouses, where 

 en route numerous flocks of autumn shore birds were 

 encountered, wheeling and settling in their characteristic 

 fashion just a little way ahead of the wayfarer. 



Seahouses reached, tea was partaken of at Mrs. Cuthbert- 



son's, the events of the day reviewed, and a pleasant Meeting 



brought to a close. 



Birds. 



The birds noted were : — 

 Waterhen 



Coot 



Redshank 

 Curlew 

 Lapwing 



Herring Gull 



Poinatorine Sliua 



Shellduck 



P'ider 



Scoter 



