HERRING GULL 15 



sailing about in the shallow water, or standing motion- 

 less on a clod that just rises above the surface, in which 

 position they have a particularly clumsy look ; or one or 

 two may be seen slowly wheeling about above the rest. 

 From time to time the whole flock o£ gulls suddenly 

 rises and begins circling about, and at last they settle 

 down in some new place and order. With these were at 

 first associated about forty black ducks, pretty close to- 

 gether, sometimes apparently in close single lines, some 

 looking lumpish like decoys of wood, others standing 

 on the bottom and reminding me of penguins. They 

 were constantly diving with great energy, making 

 the water fly apparently two feet upward in a thick 

 shower. Then away they all go, circling about for 

 ten minutes at least before they can decide where to 

 alight. 



The black heads and white breasts, which may be 

 golden-eyes, for they are evidently paired, male and 

 female, for the most part,^ — and yet I thought that I 

 saw the red bill of the sheldrake, — these are most in- 

 cessantly and skillfully plunging and from time to time 

 apparently pursuing each other. They are much more 

 active, whether diving or swimming about, than you ex- 

 pect ducks to be. Now, perchance, they are seen chang- 

 ing their ground, swimming off, perhaps, two by two, 

 in pairs, very steadily and swiftly, without diving. I see 

 two of these very far off on a bright-blue bay where the 

 waves are running high. They are two intensely white 

 specks, which yet you might mistake for the foaming 

 crest of waves. Now one disappears, but soon is seen 



1 They are sheldrakes [t. e. American mergansers]. 



