CHARACTEKS OF THE ORDERS. 7 



arranged in lines, ever undulating and changing figure, 

 Avliile their clear cries seem to express their joy at having 

 escaped the dangers of their long passage over the isleless 

 waste of waters. Now they descend, mingle their ranks, 

 wheel in dislocated bands, unite, sweep along, and, clamorous 

 in their joy, at length alight on the open pasture. Having 

 rested awliile, and plumed themselves, they begin to move 

 about in search of food, walking sedately and with decurved 

 necks directing their strong bills to the ground, from which 

 they Avrench the roots of the grasses and pluck the herbage. 

 Prudent, however, as they well need to be in an unexplored 

 tract, and careful of their safety, they neither scatter about 

 at random nor leave themselves subject to surprise. Should 

 a suspicious object present itself, one of them presently erects 

 himself, and emits a warning cry ; on hearing which they 

 all run together, raise their necks to their full stretch, and 

 carefully inspect the ground. Should the danger be immi- 

 nent they run a few paces forward, spreading their large 

 wings, ascend into the air, and betake themselves to some 

 distant place. Here, close to the rocks on the shore, a large 

 bird has abruptly emerged from the deep, and is gliding 

 smoothly and rapidly along, his body half-sunk in the water, 

 and his bill directed toward it. As suddenly he disappears, 

 gliding noiselessly with vigorous spring into the bosom of 

 the sea. You watch his re-appearance perhaps a whole 

 minute or more, and there, at a great distance, he emerges, 

 bearing in his bill a moderate-sized fish, which he soon 

 swallows with erected neck and widened throat. Now 

 sweeps into view from behind the headland a large bird, 

 gliding on outspread wings, now inclining for a space to this 

 side, now to that, then shooting along in a curve, at one 

 time skimming the water, at another ascending to a con- 

 siderable height, and now and then emitting a singular cry, 

 somewhat resembling the sounds of human laughter. He 

 suddenly descends, hovers with upraised wings, lets down 

 his feet, with which he seems to pat the water, dips his 

 beak and head into it, and, exulting, carries up a small fish, 

 which he securely disposes of. He then alights, sitting 

 buoyantly on the sea, but finding that by SAvimming he 



