The Bird Watcher in the Shetlands, with Some Notes on Seals—and Digressions

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Edmund Selous. The Bird Watcher in the Shetlands, with Some Notes on Seals—and Digressions

The Bird Watcher in the Shetlands, with Some Notes on Seals—and Digressions

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Edmund Selous

Published by Good Press, 2019

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These skuas love brigandage so much that, amongst themselves, they play at it; swooping, fleeing, and pursuing, each feigns, in turn, to be spoiler or spoiled. So, at least, I understand it, for nothing ever comes of these mock skirmishings, no real fight or flight, or anything approaching to one. It is fun, frolic, with a sense of humour, maybe, as though two pirates were playfully to hoist the black flag at each other. I love the humour of it. I love the birds. Above all, I love that wild cry of theirs that rings out so beautifully "to the wild sky," to the mists and scudding clouds. By its general grace and beauty, by its sportings and piracies, its speed of flight and the rushing sweeps of its attack, this bird must ever live in the memories of those who have known it: but, most of all, it will live there by the inspiring music of its cry.

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