or ghostland, came the plaintive wail of the curlews; then the
dotterels would run and flit about the sands; and, not least, the
herons, measuring out their dominions with their lordly arch of wings
in leisurely pride of sovereignty, passed grandly on their way; or,
ever and anon, a thousand plover, as with one soul, would turn and
glance in the sun far away. All this was a new revelation to many
boys, whose sole ideas of birds had been sparrows, thrushes, perhaps,
and ducks at so much a couple, and a duck-pond.

In our enumeration, however, of fish and fowl we had almost forgotten "a
portent of the wave," which was a nine hours' wonder with us. A stray
seal, revisiting the familiar shore, and unaware of the change which had
transformed his quiet haunts was encountered by one of our party as he
cruised round Borth Head in his fishing-boat. We are glad to record that
the _rencontre_ ended without bloodshed. It was a sportsman and a
naturalist who had crossed the poor seal's path; but he remembered that
he, too, was a stranger in the land, and he could not lift rifle against
the

Sea-worn face, sad as mortality,

which leaned from the ledge of rock to look at him. So the monster
passed on his way unharmed.

We have detailed at length enough of the diversions and interests which
lay close at our own doors. But these delights pale by the side of those
red-letter days when we went far afield to keep a holiday among the
mountains. We shall not see the like of those days again! On such
mornings, the hotel steps and the esplanade would be dotted with anxious
groups waiting for breakfast, and observing the omens of the sky. If