302 A BOOK-LOVER'S HOLIDAYS 



As we approached their nesting-places all these 

 birds rose, and clamored loudly as they hovered 

 over us, lighting not far off, and returning to 

 their nests as we moved away. 



The skimmers are odd, interesting birds, and 

 on the whole were, if anything, rather tamer 

 even than the royal terns and laughing gulls, 

 their constant associates. They came close be- 

 hind these two in point of abundance. They 

 flew round and round us, and to and fro, con- 

 tinually uttering their loud single note, the bill 

 being held half open as they did so. The lower 

 mandible, so much longer than the upper, gives 

 them a curious look. Ordinarily the bill is 

 held horizontally and closed; but when after 

 the small fish on which they feed the lower 

 mandible is dropped to an angle of forty-five 

 degrees, ploughing lightly the surface of the 

 water and scooping up the prey. They fly 

 easily, with at ordinary times rather deliberate 

 strokes of their long wings, wheeling and cir- 

 cling, and continually crying if roused from their 

 nests. When flying the white of their plumage 

 is very conspicuous, and as they flapped around 

 every detail of form and coloration, of bill and 

 plumage, could be observed. 



When sitting they appear almost black, and, 

 in consequence, when on their nests, on the 



