166 BIRD LIFE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 



the coast throughout the month, and the flocks of 

 Dunlin are largely reinforced, many of the birds still 

 showing the black breast of the breeding plumage. 

 In fact, now that the ties of home and family are 

 relaxed, a general shifting of quarters ensues, and 

 through the next few weeks the night skies will be alive 

 with bird-notes as the travellers call to their fellows, 

 and myriads of tired wings will skim the waves of the 

 misty Channel. But as successive departures thin the 

 ranks of the summer birds, the arrivals of autumn 

 and winter guests are so numerous that we scarcely 

 mark our loss. 



MOUNTAIN AND MOOR. 



August is, and bids fair to remain, the great holiday 

 month. Happily when we are able to turn our backs 

 upon the madding crowd mountain turf is still fresh 

 and springy, and the moors, so late to respond to the 

 touch of spring, are crowned with the full glory of the 

 heather. And what a choice lies open to us, even 

 south of the Border. Shall we follow up the torrent 

 as it rushes down from Llyn Llydau, hurrying on in 

 fall and water-slide to the valley, till we see in front 

 of us the sovran peak of Y Wyddf a, flanked on the left 

 by the great precipices of Lliwedd and on the right by 

 the lofty knife-edge of Crib Goch ? Or shall we bear 

 with the humours of Lake District weather, and watch 



