VOYAGE OP THE GERMANIA AND HANSA. 39 



with manifold unwearying windings and turnings, spying 

 for prey in the dead-water, and then darting like light- 

 ning upon some little crab tossed in the current ; or sitting 

 sociably some short distance from the ship's side upon the 

 smooth or even strongly-heaving water, sunning them- 

 selves, trimming their plumage, or fishing. They also 

 liked to whirl round the mast, accompanying the truck 

 in all its waving to and fro, and sometimes settling upon 

 it. If we mounted into the top, the birds were not at all 

 shy, but hovered about with fluttering wings, apparently 

 standing still, and from time to time shooting nearer to 

 the observer, who might almost fancy that he could clasp 

 them easily in his hand, thus having a good opportunity of 

 observing this really handsome bird at his leisure. The 

 round head, with the knowing dark eyes, turns backwards 

 and forwards upon the short neck, the wings move in grace- 

 ful lines, the small black feet are drawn tight under the 

 tail. The whole under part of the bird is a pure white, 

 whilst the upper part is bluish grey. But what strikes 

 the eye the most is that the tips of the slender wings 

 and the fan-shaped tail are jet black. In rather lighter 

 black, differing according to the age and time of year, 

 are marks on the head and neck, one in particular 

 looking like a collar. In spite of all this outward 

 beauty (in which property they are far surpassed by the 

 ivory gull) there remains an ugly peculiarity common 

 to this species, namely, their ever harsh and grating 

 cry. In fair or foul weather, in slow and in swift flight, 

 the sharp "ih, ih, ha, ha," is ever heard without inter- 

 mission and in every possible cadence. These are the 

 same gulls that in northern neighbourhoods flock toge- 

 ther in thousands, make their nests in the rocks, and 



