THE GULLS AND TERNS. 



danger of being confounded with any other. They are 

 web-footed birds, whose home is on the waters, but 

 not in the mild sense in which you may say the same 

 of a Duck. For the wings of a Gull are more than 

 its feet, and the winds are its element as much 

 as the waves. Some kinds follow the larger rivers 

 inland, and even visit lakes and large tanks, but 

 most prefer the sea coast and the restless waves 

 with which their own wild spirits are in sym- 

 pathy. They often rest on reefs, or sandbanks, or 

 fishing posts, or floating spars, and they are persuad- 

 ed that the buoys in the harbour have been provided 

 only for their convenience : but failing such solid 

 resting-places they will take their seat on a dancing 

 wave, with an easy grace which is all their own, and 

 eye the passing boat with a happy and triumphant 

 smile. They feed entirely on the wing, roaming up 

 and down the coast, visiting all harbours and follow- 

 ing ships at sea. Watching the flight of Gulls is one 

 of the many delights of a sea voyage to me. For 

 hours together they will keep their place about the 

 stern of a fast steamer, as if it drew them on without 

 effort on their part. They rise or sink, fall back a 

 little or forge ahead, or pass [from one side to the 

 other, as if there were some hidden motive po\ver at 

 work within them. Outwardly there is nothing to be 

 seen but a few lazy flaps now and then of their snowy 

 wings. A plateful of scraps goes over-board, and in 

 an instant they are a screaming and scrambling crowd, 

 growing smaller and dimmer till they pass out of 

 sight altogether as the swift ship goes on her way. 

 But in a quarter of an hour, lo ! they are about us 

 again as if they had never been absent. 



