THE SEA-MEW'S CRY. 25 



most coasts of Norway. One evening, while walking 

 along the beach near Thurso, Eobert Dick took up a 

 singular-looking nut, which he examined. He remarked 

 to the friend who accompanied him, " That has been 

 brought by the ocean current and the prevailing winds 

 all the way from one of the West Indian Islands. 

 How strange that we should find it here !" 



Kobert Dick always admired the magnmcent sea 

 pictures of Thurso Bay its waves that gently rocked or 

 wildly raged. He enjoyed the salt-laden breath of the 

 sea wind ; and even the cries of the sea birds. Here is 

 his description of the sea-mew : " ' Ha ga tirwa ! ' How 

 strange and uncouth ! How very unnatural the cry 

 seemed. It was only the cry of a sea bird. It was 

 within sight of the ocean. There had been a storm. It 

 was over, but the waves in long rolling breakers dashed 

 themselves in a rage on the sandy shore, and then were 

 quiet. But quiet only for a moment. 'Ha ga tirwa!' 

 Kestless and unwearied, another and another long wave 

 followed and burst into spray. And thus it has ever 

 been 'since evening was, and morning was.' It was 

 then evening, the stars began to twinkle ; and after a 

 little the full moon rose. But still ' Ha ga tirwa !' " 



But before proceeding with Eobert Dick's history, 

 it is necessary that we should give a short account of 

 the county of Caithness, over the whole of which 

 he afterwards wandered in search of the botany, as 

 well as of the geological formation of the district. 



