Cliff- Birds, and their Colonies. 97 



and chestnut-red shining in the 

 light as he sails round his mate and 

 children, as if on guard. It is the 

 prettiest sight the little buoyant 

 balls of feathers ; the watchful mother 

 making her low gurgling sounds of 

 motherly counsel and instruction ; 

 and the father, his gay plumes all 

 out-preened, the picture of proud 

 contentment 



Beyond, where the reef lies off the 

 mouth of the harbour, the Gannets 

 are fishing, falling like stones in the 

 blue water, and sending up fountains 

 of spray some feet into the air. 

 These Gannets are angular, awkward 

 birds, and go flapping one by one 

 over the sea, scanning the waves 

 with hungry eyes for fish near enough 

 to the surface to be struck by their 

 plunging fall. Round those fierce 

 eyes of theirs they have curious dark 

 rings, which show sharply on their 

 pure white plumage, and have earned 

 them the name of " spectacled 



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