A CALIFORNIA BEACH 



events, to keep them in good heart and flesh, the 

 wave brings them the tidbit they are seeking. 

 The tidbit, I say, but frequently the wriggling 

 captive — crab, shrimp, or what-not — looks a 

 rather unwieldy mouthful as, with more or less 

 of spasmodic tossings of the head, they finally 

 worry it down. 



If a horseman happens along, they tumble 

 hastily into the surf, and swim a little way out, 

 diving through the higher breakers and riding 

 the lesser ones, only to return and resume their 

 meal as soon as the coast is clear again. I sus- 

 pect that they fish mostly at a certain stage of 

 the tide, but as to that I have made no conclus- 

 ive observations. 



Another duck, also common here, wears the 

 name of surf scoter, but I cannot perceive that 

 the designation fits him better than his white- 

 marked relative. 



It must be a very foolish or ill-brought-up bird, 

 however, that has only one string to his bow. 

 The scoter has at least two, for besides this rak- 

 ing of the surf he is proficient at diving in deep 

 water. I have watched him at it many a time, 

 leaning over the railing of the pier for that pur- 

 pose, directly above his head. Then he is any- 

 thing but ungraceful. With a sudden tip forward 

 and a few vigorous strokes of his legs, down he 

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