THE NORTHUMBERLAND COAST IN SEPTEMBER 1 73 



bay. From this point we looked far out to the Holy Island 

 of Lindisfarne with its castle and rained priory on the north — 

 to the sand-bar with its fringe of white breakers to the east — 

 and inland to the Kyloe Hills and the more distant outlines 

 of Cheviot and Hedgehope. 



By a careful scrutiny of the surface of the mud flats we 

 were able to discover a small party of Sheldrakes far away 

 towards the Ross Links. The distance was too great to see 

 many details, but we could make out their white plumage 

 flashing in the sunlight, contrasted with their dark heads and 

 buff-coloured breasts. Somewhat nearer to us was a solitary 

 member of the duck family floating on a shallow pool. From 

 its small size we thought that it might be a Teal, but it was 

 so sombre of hue that in the distance we could not make out 

 any distinguishing feature in its plumage. Far away across 

 the waste we could see two or three Herons standing on the 

 edge of a muddy pool. They appeared to be resting after the 

 piscatorial labours of the early morning, and doubtless good 

 digestion had not waited in vain on appetite. 



We now turned our attention to the Gulls, in the hope of 

 being able to distinguish to what species they belonged. But 

 here we were met by the usual difficulties. The mature birds, 

 which were decidedly in the minority, were easy to identify. 

 The Great Black-backed Gull was unmistakable ; by his 

 large size he made all the rest look mere pigmies. Even 

 immature specimens were easily picked out. The mature 

 Lesser Black-backed Gulls were marked out by their hand- 

 some dark plumage, and the quite mature Herring Gulls we 

 also knew ; but when it came to distinguishing between the 

 immature specimens of these two species we were quite at sea, 

 and had to admit ourselves beaten. The smaller size of the 

 Black-headed Gulls, with their bright red legs and bills, 

 singled them out, but except for a few dark dots their heads 

 were now free from the smoky black hoods which are assumed 

 in the breeding season, and from which the bird takes its 

 name. 



