496 LESTRIS IlICHARDSONII. 



which it swallows without aliffhtinsr. In the midst of all 

 this bustle and merriment, there comes glidinp^ from afar, 

 with swift and steady motion, a dark and resolute-looking 

 bird, which, as it cleaves a path for itself among the white 

 Terns, seems a messenger of death. But a few minutes ago 

 he was but a dim speck on the horizon, or at least some 

 miles away ; and now, unthought of, he is in the very midst 

 of them. Nay, he has singled out his victim, and is pur- 

 suing it. The latter, light and agile, attempts to evade the 

 aggressor. It mounts, descends, sweeps aside, glides off in 

 a curve, turns, doubles, and shoots away, screaming inces- 

 santly the while. The Sea-Hawk follows the frightened 

 bird in all its motions, which its superior agility enables it 

 to do with apparent ease. At length the Tern, finding 

 escape hopeless, and perhaps terrified by the imminence of 

 its danger, disgorges part of the contents of its gullet, pro- 

 bably with the vicAv of lightening itself. The pursuer, with 

 all his seeming ferocity, had no designs upon the life of the 

 poor Tern ; and now his object is evident, for he plunges 

 after the falling fish, catches it in its descent, and presently 

 flies off to attack another bird. In this way the marauder 

 makes his rounds, exacting tribute from all Avhom he thinks 

 capable of paying it, and not sturdy enough to resist op- 

 pression. The Tern, the Brown-hooded Mew, and the Kitti- 

 wake he harasses; but the Black-backed, Yellow-footed, and 

 Herring Gulls are not his tributaries. They pay no taxes 

 to governors, nor black -mail to protectors. The Teaser never 

 fishes for himself on such occasions, although his organization 

 seems to fit him for aquatic rapine, even more than that of 

 the Tern or Gull. He is lord of the shores, and they who 

 fish by them must yield up a portion of the produce of their 

 industry. When satisfied Avith food, he retires to the distant 

 bosom of the deep, or to some islet or unfrequented part of 

 the sand ; but his awakening appetite soon forces him to 

 return, and for hours together he may be seen on AAing, 

 singling out a bird here and there and pursuing it, or gliding 

 swiftly, as if on urgent business, from one group to another. 

 " The Pirate sweeps rapidly along on extended wings, 

 which are considerablv curved, like those of the Gulls and 



