Seaside Bird- Life in August 145 



■ Other common Sea-birds that the visitor to almost every 

 part of the coast in August will meet with are the Cormorant 1 

 and the Shag, 2 and one or two species of Auks, such as the 

 Guillemot, 8 the Razorbill, 4 and the Puffin. 5 The big black- 

 looking Cormorants and Shags may either be seen basking on 

 the rocks with wings outstretched — hanging out to dry, as it 

 were — digesting the fish with which they have lately gorged 

 themselves, or swimming along, not very far from shore, 

 diving at intervals. Sometimes, especially at nightfall, parties 

 of these birds will be noticed in swift yet laboured flight just 

 above the waves, going to some favourite roosting place, a 

 sea cave by preference. The Razorbill, the Guillemot, and 

 the Puffin are all black and white birds of moderate size, the 

 first named recognised by its black, deep bill, crossed by a 

 white line ; the second, the same in size, but with a long, 

 narrow, pointed bill ; and the last by its small size and 

 enormous coulter- shaped bill. All are expert divers, and 

 spend almost the whole of their time in the water in quest of 

 their finny prey. They, too, may frequently be watched flying 

 just above the sea in long skeins or strings. 



By far the most interesting and absorbing feature of bird- 

 life on the coast in August is that pertaining to the wonders 

 and the problems of avine migration. There are few localities 

 on the shore where the wondrous drama of migration is not 

 in progress in August. The vast return tide of feathered life 

 is just commencing to flow along the coast-lines southwards ; 

 the army of birds of many species that breed far away in the 

 Arctic Regions is now sending forth its extreme advance guards 

 —the pioneers of an advancing host that each successive day 

 is now bringing closer and closer to us. The most favourable 

 points for observation, however, are the sands, the shingles, 

 and the mud-flats and saltings on the lower-lying coasts 

 Here in the early days of August the first Knots 6 make their 



1 Phalacrocorax carbo. - Phalacrocorax gractdus. 3 Uriatroile. 

 4 Alca torda. 5 Fraterada arclica. 6 Tringa canulus. 



