34 BIRD NOTES 



up my mind that they were breasting the wind 

 in order to rise upon it, kite-like, to the necessary 

 height. Another day I watched from the cliff a 

 small flock performing the same manoeuvres, but 

 as the wind was north-west, they took a course 

 over the sea which seemed, as far as I could trace 

 it, to be south-east. Do they rise till they can 

 see the opposite coast ? or do they find a stronger 

 wind at that height to help them ? 



I have often watched gulls rising in that way 

 on the wind. Very greatly they seem to enjoy it, 

 and they apparently have no object in it but en- 

 joyment. Till the wind masters them, there is 

 not the slightest motion of the wings to be seen. 



