530 ACCOUNT OF THE ARCTIC REGIONS. 



near the scene of operations, that they are knocked 

 down with boat-hooks, in great numbers, and some- 

 times taken up by the hand. The sea immediately 

 about the ship's stern, is sometimes so completely 

 covered with them, that a stone can scarcely be 

 thrown overboard, without striking one of them. 

 When any thing is thus cast among them, those 

 nearest the spot where it falls, take the alarm, and 

 these exciting some fear in others more remote, 

 sometimes put a thousand of them in motion ; but 

 as, in rising into the air, they assist their wings, for 

 the first few yards, by striking the water with their 

 feet, there is produced by such a number of them, a 

 loud and most singular splashing. It is highly amu- 

 sing to observe the voracity with which they seize 

 the pieces of fat that fall in their way ; the size and 

 quantity of the pieces they take at a meal ; the cu- 

 rious chuckling noise which, in their anxiety for 

 dispatch, they always make ; and the jealousy with 

 which they view, and the boldness with which they 

 attack, any of their species that are engaged in de- 

 vouring the finest morsels. They frequently glut 

 themselves so completely, that they are unable to 

 fly ; in which case, when they are not relieved by a 

 quantity being disgorged, they endeavour to get on 

 the nearest piece of ice, where they rest until the 

 advancement of digestion restores their wonted 

 powers. Then, if opportunity admit, they return 

 with the same gust to the banquet as before : and. 



