. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . irds for distant objects isremarkable. When the observer descries a large flock in thedistance, resembling at first a puff of smoke moving rapidlyalong the horizon, he should crouch low and remain perfectlystill until a rush of wings tells him that the flock is passingoverhead. Should the tide be ebbing and should he haveselected a favourable position, the flock may swoop downand alight quite near him. I have often baffled birds bydoubling myself into such curious attitudes that theyprobably mistook me for some inanimate object, such asan old
. The aquatic birds of Great Britain and Ireland . irds for distant objects isremarkable. When the observer descries a large flock in thedistance, resembling at first a puff of smoke moving rapidlyalong the horizon, he should crouch low and remain perfectlystill until a rush of wings tells him that the flock is passingoverhead. Should the tide be ebbing and should he haveselected a favourable position, the flock may swoop downand alight quite near him. I have often baffled birds bydoubling myself into such curious attitudes that theyprobably mistook me for some inanimate object, such asan old hamper or a piece of sacking washed ashore, andby this means I have found myself surrounded by greatnumbers busily pattering about in search of food (Plate I.,Frontispiece). Some of the carrion-feeding species which haunt ourshores, and are seen hovering suspiciously over a strandedcarcase before alighting to feed, may be brought withinsufticiently close range for their habits to be studied, bythe observer feigning death. By lying flat on my back.
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectwaterbi, bookyear1906
