186 NATURE AND WOdDCRAFT. 



he told how the plough had invaded the sea- 

 birds' haunt, and explained that what was now 

 corn-land had once been a Gullery. 



In his youth, Kittiwake had " worked " a 

 duck decoy, and his father and grandfather 

 had been fowlers before him ; even now he 

 surrounded his craft with as much mystery 

 as does the fish-poacher his preparation of 

 salmon-roe. The old man was wont to tell of 

 clouds of Widgeon, banks of Brent Geese, and 

 the " demon huntsman " with his Wish Hounds 

 whose cries came from the leaden wintry skies. 



These are Wild Swans coming from the 

 icy north, which choose dark nights for their 

 migrations. The grand trumpet notes are 

 sounded clear, distinct, and clarion-like ; as 

 a solitary bugle sounding the advance ; or, 

 " like the tongue of some old hound, uplifted 

 when the pack runs mute with a breast-high 

 scent ; then, as if in emulation of their leader's 

 note, the entire flock bursts into a chorus of 

 cries, which, floating downwards on the still 

 frosty air, has every possible resemblance to the 

 music of a pack of fox-hounds in full cry " — 

 sounds which have doubtless given rise to old 

 Kittiwake's legend. 



