12 



mentioned. The plumage is white, with orange 

 and dark glossy spots which are large and dis- 

 tinct, and in the males extremely brilliant. They 

 fly in pairs, and their cry is loud and incessant. 

 These ducks chiefly inhabit the cliffs of an 

 island, and are peculiar to that part of the shore ; 

 and the author adds, what Colonel Travers con- 

 siders to be a very singular fact that, although 

 the whole coast lies in nearly the same parallel of 

 latitude, yet several species of the feathered race 

 seem to be confined to particular districts. 

 For instance, at the western end, there were mul- 

 titudes of the red-legged partridge; the middle 

 of the coast was occupied by crows, and every 

 hole and crevice in every rock had its family 

 of pigeons ; then came the ducks, and when 

 they disappeared, the elevated cliffs seemed 

 to be usurped by eagles. As he advanced still 

 further to the eastward, even the common gull, 

 which is so plentiful every where else, became 

 scarce, but its place was filled by swarms of the 

 noisy sea-mew; and at the furthest extremity of 

 the coast, he entered a shallow bay which was 

 covered with swans, geese, and pelicans. 



Sth. Mary was quite triumphant to-day in 

 our genius argument, and produced two examples 

 on her side, which she said were very strong. 



The celebrated Dolomieu, she told us, entered 

 very early in life into the religious order of Malta j 



