246 TURN OVER THE COD. CHAP. xn. 



give the work another trial. Lowering themselves, 

 with their breasts close to the sand, they managed to 

 push their bills underneath the fish, which they made 

 to rise to about the same height as before. After- 

 wards, withdrawing their bills, but without losing the 

 advantage which they had gained, they applied their 

 breasts to the object. This they did with such force 

 and to such purpose, that at length it went over, and 

 rolled several yards down a slight declivity. It was 

 followed to some distance by the birds themselves, 

 before they could recover their bearing. 



" They returned eagerly to the spot from whence 

 they had dislodged the obstacle which had so long 

 opposed them ; and they gave unmistakable proof, 

 by their rapid and continued movements, that they 

 were enjoying an ample repast as the reward of their 

 industrious and praiseworthy labour. I was so pleased, 

 and even delighted, with the sagacity and perse- 

 verance which they had shown, that I should have 

 considered myself as guilty of a crime had I endea- 

 voured to take away the lives of these interesting 

 beings, at the very moment when they were ex- 

 ercising, in a manner so happily for themselves, 

 the wonderful instincts implanted in them by their 

 Creator. "When they appeared to have done and to 

 be satisfied, I arose from my place of concealment. 

 On examining the fish, I found it to be a specimen 

 of the common cod. It was nearly three feet and a 

 half long, and it had been imbedded in the sand to 

 the depth of about two inches." 



