390 CITIZEN BIRD 



When the right day came, without a sign of ugly 

 squalls or of an equally unfortunate calm, Olaf bor- 

 rowed a large cat-boat, and after stowing away the 

 lunch hamper, that was always a ' must be ' for an all- 

 day trip, the boat almost flew out of the little bay and 

 up the sound before the breeze that came with the 

 morning tide. 



" There are some more of your white Crows, Nat," 

 said the Doctor, as they headed straight out after get- 

 ting on the right tack. "The island where we are 

 going is one of their famous nesting places." 



" Their wings are very different from Crows' wings," 

 said Rap, as he watched them overhead, now winnow- 

 ing the air with steady wing-beats, or circling on 

 motionless pinions — now poising in one spot for a 

 minute by merely flapping the wings, and then drop- 

 ping gracefully to float on the water. " Gulls' wings 

 bend out more at the tip and are smooth-edged ; Crows' 

 look flatter and are saw-edged." 



" Are there any other birds besides Gulls that nest 

 on the island. Uncle Roy? " asked Nat. 



" Yes, the Terns or Sea Swallows that you have seen 

 about the reef nest there also ; and this island, as well 

 as the mainland near by, is a favorite stopping-place 

 for all the shore and water birds in their journeys, — 

 from Sandpipers to great flocks of Sea Ducks." 



" I should think it would be a long swim for Ducks," 

 said Nat ; "it is as much as fifteen miles from shore." 



" They don't swim — tliey fly there," said Olaf. 



"Can Ducks fly?" exclaimed Dodo in amazement. 

 " I'm sure the white Ducks at the Farm can only waddle 

 on the ground, or swim and spatter along the water 



