154 WITH THE SEA-LOVERS 



to him. This extraordinary power of holding 

 themselves at any desired depth in water, 

 possessed by ducks, geese, and some other 

 water-birds, is of great interest, and a most 

 useful accomplishment to those who are 

 hunted. Many stories are told of birds es- 

 caping in this way from their enemies, as 

 one just related of a sandpiper. 



None of our popular sayings about the 

 birds and beasts is more utterly absurd than 

 " crazy as a loon." The loon is a very clear- 

 headed fellow, wise in conducting his life, a 

 fond parent, brave in defending the young, 

 full of resources to outwit his enemies, and 

 quite capable of taking care of himself. 



Among the most attractive of the sea- 

 lovers were the gulls, 



" Winging their silent way, 

 In the glow of the dying day," 



in little parties of two or three or half a 

 dozen, all headed for a rocky ledge far 

 out from shore, where they settled for the 

 night, looking as if the sombre rock had 

 suddenly burst into bloom, or sitting on the 

 water to take their fill from a shoal of small 

 fish incautiously near the surface. 



