194 MR - c - K - ROBSONS REPORT OF 



larks were hovering and singing their mid-day song. At 

 Houndalee, a mere handful of cottages nestling near the 

 farmstead, the road is met by the sand-dunes across which 

 we followed a cart-track, bringing us to Druridge Bay. The 

 sea was in her calmest mood, reflecting the blue of the sky in 

 deeper intensity, and the beach grading in colour from the 

 greyish white of the finely-ground sands to the rich siennas 

 and umbers of the damper grains. To the north Coquet 

 Island was mirrored, a white mass against the blue sea. But 

 already bird-life was visible ; the large herring-gull was wing- 

 ing his strong flight; floating further out a couple of red- 

 throated divers, now plunging into the calm water and rising 

 again at a considerable distance. The receding tide was 

 leaving its treasures on the firm sand; a stranded jellyfish 

 with its liquid iridesence, the pod and sabre razor shell, the 

 common and horse mussel, common and tortoiseshell limpet, 

 pelican's foot, scallop, whelk and grey top were fairly 

 abundant ; but the cowrie — the blackamoor's tooth of the 

 children — was scarce. 



On the margin of the sands, running hither and thither as 

 the wavelets retreated, was a flock of ring plovers busily 

 feeding ; and as we sought the shelter of the sandhills to 

 discuss our sandwiches, a redshank winged his flight over the 

 stilly sea, working direct north. Nature was in one of her 

 quiet restful moods, and one felt the truth and beauty of 

 Browning's lines — 



Oh, good gigantic smile o' the brown old earth, 

 This autumn morning ! How he sets his bones 

 To bask i' the sun, and thrusts out knees and feet 

 For the ripple to run over in its mirth ; 

 Listening the while, where on the heap of stones 

 The white breast of the sea lark twitters sweet. 



Nearer the southern end of the sands the toll of loosened 

 seaweed was on the shore, chiefly grass and bladder-wrack, 

 tangle, coralline and green laver; and on the stems of the 

 Laminaria digitata (oarweed) one could see the typical 

 growths of polyzoa. 



