370 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



me ; I had a terribly hard pull against that raging ebb, that 

 blistered even my horny hands, and took two hours to accom- 

 plish a trip that I can usually sail in twenty minutes. My 

 houseboat lies two miles north-west from the town, on a rond 

 against Banham's farm. I tumbled into her, and very soon had 

 a rasher of bacon frizzling over the cabin-fire, to the wonder- 

 ment, perhaps, of a couple of Black-backed Gulls to leeward, 

 who found it difficult to associate such a savoury aroma with 

 their favourite carrion. The only unusual " callers " were the 

 afore-mentioned Lapwings, which for some reason or other 

 have, this August, haunted the adjoining marsh at night. It 

 cannot be worms — it must be "Leather jackets" they are seek- 

 ing, for they are not particular birds so long as plenty offers ; 

 and the larvse of the Tipula are dainties Master " Hornpie " 

 delights to eat. 



Last night I slept well. The first visitor of the morning 

 was a Pipit. How the Pipits and Wagtails of the year do like 

 to hear the patter of their little feet on my white-topped cabin 

 roof ! I can assure them they are always welcome. 



On opening the doors — quietly and slowly, as I always do, 

 for one never knows what company one may have in front of 

 him — I discovered scores of Common Gulls (Larus canus) and 

 Black-headed Gulls. These were running about the flats, some 

 but a stone's throw away. All were worming, and snatching up 

 Shrimps and Gobies, and no one knows what else, for many 

 young fishes are stranded when the tide falls ; not that it 

 matters much to the little "Eel-pouts" (Viviparous Blennies), 

 Flounders, Gobies, Shore-crabs, and various other Crustacea, 

 for some will wriggle into the ooze, or hide beneath the Zostera, 

 and comfortably await its return. Not so well off are the 

 "Whitebait" (tiny Herrings) and the juvenile Smelts, for after 

 a short helpless wriggle, unless there happens to remain an 

 inch-deep pool to hold them, they must succumb. No wonder 

 the smaller Gulls are most industrious ramblers on the flats, 

 and small wonder they are always so merry. 



Half a mile beyond this scattered flock are a number of fine 

 old Greater Saddle-backed Gulls, evidently unencumbered this 

 year by domestic duties, for they have been here all the summer ; 



