OP LA PEROUSK. 427 



Two gulls, a male and female, of the fpecics 

 called by BufFon bourgme/ire ( larus fufcus, Linn.), 

 came and fettled in thefe heights, at a fhort cliC- 

 tance from hs. The female having been fhot, 

 the male, terrified at the noife of the explolion, 

 at fir(t took to flight, but prefently he returned 

 to the fame fpot, being unwilling longer to aban- 

 don his mate, and he fuffered himfelf to be killed 

 by her fide. 



I had alfo fired with fmali fhot at a feal that 

 was lying down at a pretty good diftance from, 

 me; he felt himfelf wounded, and diilrufling 

 his ftrength, he durft not throw himfelf into the 

 water : I was fo well concealed, that he could not 

 perceive me. Prefently I faw another very big 

 pne, which, attracted by the cries of the wound- 

 ed feal, came and licked all the places whence 

 the blood was flowing; this animal fubmitted 

 to the operation as if it gave him fome relief; 

 but at the fight of a boat which approached 

 them, they both plunged into the fea. 



Shortly after I difiinguifhed fome others, ad* 

 vancing towards the lldrts of the beach; they ne- 

 ver failed, before they ventured to come on 

 ihore, to raife near half their body above the 

 water, and they kept themfelves fome time in this 

 attitude, fmelling and looking about on all fides, 

 to difcover if there was no danger in their coming 



fp reil on the rocks, 



As 



