MARRIAGE 



If, on the other hand, a kittiwake or a tern be 

 shot at sea, its companions, careless of danger, 

 will hover around with loud cries, descending 

 upon the floating body, as though clearly aware 

 that some dire mishap has befallen their friend, 

 and that their help might be needed. 



We remember once, on a sea-loch in Argyle- 

 shire seeing a remarkable instance of affection 

 between birds. An oyster-catcher, generally a 

 wary fowl, crossed the bay at a considerable dis- 

 tance from the boat. A long shot was fired, 

 and the bird held on its course, apparently un- 

 touched, until it reached the shingle, where it 

 fell dead. Soon a second bird appeared, flying 

 straight to the spot, and alighted beside its dead 

 comrade. It remained there running round the 

 prostrate form until the boat grated on the stones 

 a few yards away. Even then it only flew 

 for a little distance, and soon came running back. 

 Charles St. John, in his " Wild Sports of the 

 Highlands," gives similar instances in relation to 

 wild swans. He writes : — ' * I fired right and 

 left at two of the largest as they rose from the 

 loch. The cartridge told well on one which 

 fell dead on the water. The other flew off after 

 the rest of the flock, but presently turned back, 

 and after making two or three graceful sweeps 

 over the body of his companion, fell headlong 

 perfectly dead, almost upon her body." 



Yarrell, again, records a like incident in regard 

 to Bewick's swan. 



" I was informed that when the wild swans 

 were shot near Middleton, one of them was so 

 reluctant to abandon a bird which was wounded, 

 that it continued to fly about the spot for several 

 hours after the rest of the flock had departed and 

 that during the whole of this period its mournful 

 cry was heard incessantly." 



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