MORECAMHE HA\ 
207 
sparrow-hawk, which were visible to him on the front seat of 
the dogcart, but not to me behind, as we drove through that 
lovely valley near Hepple, which he said reminded him of the 
Yosemite Valley in miniature. The Midlands ? Yes, I have 
learnt something here as well. The water rail can swim, and 
resembles the moorhen in its actions both afloat and ashore : 
a stoat ran over my hands resting on a plank at the head of 
Kelmarsh Mere. I noticed a weasel killing young moorhens on 
the island at Teeton House Pond, apparently for the sheer love 
of killing alone ; whilst at Cottesbrooke — where I have watched 
a family party of that most graceful of British birds, the grey 
wagtail — I was once fishing for chub, when a great squealing 
made me look at the rabbit burrow on the opposite bank and a 
three-part grown rabbit scuffled out with a huge rat hanging to 
its flanks. With a great effort it shook the rat off and fell into 
the pool : the rat followed and again laid hold in the water, being 
the faster swimmer: then I hurled a brick at him, and both swam 
out and again retired down different holes, but I heard no more. 
These are only a few of the things I have seen, but they may 
help some others to study and learn and enjoy wild nature by 
the water-side, and ponder over its parables as the river flashes 
past them on its way to the sea. Once, at eventide, I reached 
the secluded village of Kislingbury : the boys were just unstring- 
ing their rustic rods on the bridge ; but at the likeliest bend of 
the stream the veteran was before them. There he sat, a work- 
ing man, with good grey hairs, well over the allotted span of 
three-score years and ten — his rod was dark with age and use — 
alert, with the enthusiasm of youth still strong upon him. 
Would that he were a parishioner of mine ! I might learn more ; 
still, it did one good to see him, and may I, as a fisher of men, 
amid the failures of village life, the days and years when we 
seem to catch nothing, keep a like zeal and hope ever brightly 
burning, to realize the better the undying truth of that fisher- 
man’s text, “ In patience possess ye your souls.” 
W. A. Shaw. 
MORECAMBE BAY. 
OME notes on this great Bay and its features of interest 
may be acceptable to naturalists, differing as it does 
from so many other openings on the English Coast. 
The name is of Cymric origin and means the sea. 
The best view point is the summit of Hampsfell, 730 feet above 
the Bay and close to it. Probably the view from this hill can 
on different occasions vary more than any other view in Britain. 
One day you may see the Bay a great sheet of water, from shore 
to shore, a dozen miles across at its mouth. A few hours later 
the Bay will be an equally large expanse of glistening sand with 
the sea many miles away. Soon the silvery moisture drains off 
and a desert of brown sand equal in area to a small county 
