Sea Swallows 
feather, running to a point ; again, it is in the 
form of two separated parallel lines ; when still 
more spread it is distinctly forked, like the 
barn swallow’s; and when they hover for 
several seconds over a spot, the tail is spread 
to its full width, and becomes triangular. 
Graceful and easy on the wing, rather than 
majestic, like the heron—except for the occa- 
sional grotesque effect of scratching the head 
with one claw while flying, which is done so 
daintily that it only looks exquisitely vulgar— 
elegant in figure, as seen in repose when scat- 
tered on the rocks, their most beautiful appear- 
ance, after all, is undoubtedly at the moment 
of alighting; when, instead of immediately 
closing their long wings, they suddenly raise 
them high in the air, and almost touch back to 
back, like a butterfly, holding them thus for an 
instant, and then slowly closing them. This is 
the most striking and buoyant attitude in which 
to mount a stuffed specimen, but I have never 
seen it attempted. It seems as if their very 
nature spurned the earth the moment that 
they touched it. The lightness, grace and gen- 
tleness of their character flash out in this mo- 
mentary act. 
It is impossible to avoid finding their nests, 
129 
