THE BIKDS OF COBB's ISLAND, VIRGINIA 61 



spring of the year they came over the sea from the South, 

 many scores in number, and here built their bulky nests. 

 In order to reach them I once put on high rubber boots and 

 waded out into the marsh. There was no difficulty in find- 

 ing the large piles of grass which served as nests, situated 

 only a foot or two above the water. In each of those ex- 

 amined either two or three large spotted eggs were found. 

 On my first approach to the breeding grounds several of 

 the birds were ob- 

 served flying along 

 the beach just outside 

 the surf, but only one 

 or two were hovering 

 over the marsh. How-, 

 ever, annoyed by my 

 presence they soon 

 came flying about overhead, filling the air with their cries 

 of distress and uneasiness. 



This summer gull is a pretty creature. Its head and the 

 quills of its wings are black, the neck and under parts 

 snowy white, and the feathers of its back are pearl gray. 

 It has feet webbed suitable for swimming, and can ride at 

 will upon the waves like a cork. 



From the beach an observer might regard the gulls as 

 the only inhabitants of the marsh. But let him once start 



