XXVIII 

 SEA BIRDS 



" Between the waves and black o'erhanging cliffs, 

 Where, in and out, the screaming sea-fowl cry." 



MATTHEW ARNOLD. 



fT^ROM the window at which I then the origin of the gull may be in- 



write, I can see the gulls scout- land. 



ing over the pastureland. I can hear From the forms so familiar to the 

 the harsh " crow " mingling with the peasant, to those only known to the 

 subdued cry of lapwings. Any day, fisherman, are gradations. A change 

 all winter through, they are somewhere of habit is often accompanied by 

 about. Yet it is nearly ten miles from physical adaptations to the mode of 

 the coast. One wonders whether they living. The hind toe of use in walk- 

 are marine forms which drift to the ing, but only a hindrance in swim- 

 country, or inland forms which spend ming may be more or less aborted, 

 some of their time at sea. The webbed But the biding nearer the coast does 

 feet and toning of the plumage mark not make sea birds, in the sense in 

 them off from the birds with which which other forms we shall come to 

 they pass the day, and seem to favour by-and-by, are sea birds, 

 a marine origin. But these do not The webbing of the feet, which does 

 necessarily mean more, or date further not help them on the land, only makes 

 back, than the habits. them a little more graceful on the 

 To lake and marsh, still further water. All the swimming they really 

 inland, and by the base of the hills, need might be done without. They 

 they go in the spring to breed. There float perfectly, and might fitly be 

 the young are born, and pass their called the floating birds. The modifi- 

 childhood : are natives of the scene, cation of the hind toe does not help 

 Only after weeks are they guided to them under water. They do not 

 the sea, as to a strange place. In dive ; and diving, in one form or 

 other forms which lead a double life, another, is needful to the making of 

 we look to the breeding scene to tell a sea bird. These adaptations, sig- 

 which of the two spheres owns them, nificant as they are, fail in the main 

 Where were you born or brought up ? end : they do not send them down 

 If there is any force in the enquiry, to the fishes which swim below. 



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