1 66 BIRDS OF THE WAVE AND WOODLAND 



perhaps, as they may well do, that a fierce gust may sweep 

 them over the precipice on to ledges below, or that inex- 

 perience may tempt them too near the dangerous brink, 

 take the little ones on their backs — so the climbers say — and 

 fly down with them to the sea. Even if the chicks fall 



^^ 



--*\ i 



" WHERE THE SEA-FOLK CLUSTER " 



off in the course of the descent, it does them no harm to 

 plunge into the water. It must astonish the youngsters 

 to find themselves sousing into the sea, but the next instant 

 they have discovered that all is right, and before their 

 screaming mother has recovered from her concern at the 

 accident, they are swimming about merrily and enjoying 

 their first bath. And once in the ocean they remain there, 



