312 BIRDS, BEASTS, AND FISHES 



on the bosom of some salt ^stuarial water — as Lake Lothing 

 — the cold and biting snow and hail beating down on their 

 glossy backs. But what would you ? 'Tis better than being 

 upon the stormy grey sea. 



The saddle-back gulls, too, great and small, are to be seen 

 often in the spring and summer; nor do they stop long on 

 the waters, merely coming in to wash and drink, and do a 

 little poaching, ere they return to the sea — their home. 



None of these birds are to be seen for long on the broad, 

 nor have I seen any of them following the plough — as poets 

 have written. The " gull " that follows the plough is the 

 "puit," or "puit-gull," * for they love worms as dearly as a 

 gull loves a shrimp. 



But ever welcome are the strong bright gulls, with their 

 flashing bodies and wild sea-cries — birds cradled upon 

 the blue sea, upon whose restless bosom they must seek 

 their living or perish — birds into whose bodies the spirits of 

 the Norfolk sailors used to go — fishermen's brothers, since 

 their old men are " tarned ter gulls " — for ever doomed to 

 rove the restless deep — brave, and hardy, and free ! 



* Not "pewit-gull," as Mr. Saunders writes it. 



herrixg-GULL's nest .\nd eggs. {Yorkshire.) 



