42 RECREATIONS OF A NATURALIST 



class, for the surrounding district was too sparsely- 

 populated to furnish many punts or guns even in the 

 height of the wildfowl season, the result being that 

 the birds were never unduly disturbed, or if for the 

 time being they were much shot at, the survivors. 



THE CURLEW, 



with fresh accessions to their ranks, were sure to 

 come back with the turn of the tide. One great 

 advantage which this fine harbour possessed was 

 that it was too shallow to be navigable except by 

 small craft, fishing boats, and punts, which were 

 never numerous. At ebb tide an enormous extent 

 of mud flats was laid bare, intersected by creeks and 



