BIRDS OF ESSEX COUNTY. 95 



But when along the waves the shrill north-easter 

 Shrieks through the laboring coaster's shrouds ' Beware ! ' 

 The pale bird, kindling like a Christmas feaster, 

 When some wild chorus shakes the vinous air, 



Flaps from the leaden wave in fierce rejoicing, 

 Feels heaven's dumb lightning thrill his torpid nerves, 

 Now on the blast his whistling plumage poising, 

 Now wheeling, whirling in fantastic curves." 



One of the most beautiful sights is a flock of several hundred Herring Gulls 

 wheeling in great circles together, or in numerous intersecting circles, whose 

 courses it is impossible to follow, the sun and shadow alternately making the 

 birds appear white and dark. These flocks circle higher and higher, rising from 

 the beach or the ocean until they reach a considerable elevation. If a strong 

 wind is blowing, they may set their wings and sail off into the teeth of it, occa- 

 sionally flapping lazily and almost imperceptibly. At other times they all fly off 

 vigorously in one direction. Again, they circle slowly down. In the autumn 

 months it is common to see a flock of several hundred of these great white birds, 

 covering perhaps an acre of brown salt marsh, suddenly rise up, go through 

 these wonderful evolutions, all calling or talking together, and then settle back in 

 the same place. At times they descend almost perpendicularly from a great 

 height as when dropping down into a favorite feeding or resting place, by tipping, 

 or rocking, turning first their backs and then their breasts to the observer. 



In alighting on the beach, they frequently fly up nearly vertically to wind- 

 ward, and then drop gently down, landing squarely on both feet. At other times 

 they sail along over the beach and gradually drop onto the sand, keeping their 

 feet well apart. In flying a straight course, the tail is pointed like a cigar, but 

 is spread in soaring, or dropping to pick up food. In quick turns, the feet are 

 dropped pressed together and appear to act like a centerboard or rudder. 



Much of their food, especially in harbors, is refuse of all sorts floating on 

 the surface. In picking this up from the water, they check their course, 

 occasionally fly up almost backwards, and then gracefully swoop down with tail 

 spread, pattering their feet on the water, curving down the tail, and seizing the 

 desired tid-bit in the bill. This is often done without wetting a feather, save 

 sometimes the tip of the tail only, but they frequently sit on the water for a 

 minute while swallowing the morsel. 



When after small fish or objects below the surface, Herring Gulls throw 

 themselves with some splashing and wings partly spread, head foremost into 

 the water and on rare occasions with such force as to submerge themselves. In 

 these plunges they shoot down obliquely with backs up. Nearly all their 



