140 THE BIRDS OF IONA AND MULL. 





for he prefers rising against the 



wind. In calm weather, if well gorged with fish, he cannot rise 

 without the help of the breeze under his wings. When he sees 

 his retreat cut off in this direction, he swims about in evident 

 perplexity, and often allows the boat to come within fatal distance. 

 Their quickness in knowing their enemies is very amusing. 

 A heavy, lumbering fishing-boat is allowed to pass close by, while 

 the quiet, insidious approach of -the small gun-bearing skiff is 

 suspected and fled from. At first they take short dives ; but if, 

 thoroughly alarmed, they begin racing that is, diving and swim- 

 ming determinedly away it is then almost useless to attempt to 

 overtake them. When a bird sees it is no longer pursued, after 

 rising to the surface, he flaps his wings, then expands them for a 

 moment till he feels the breeze, and with laborious strokes rises 

 off the water. These, as well as other sea birds, always try to 

 get to windward by crossing the bows of a boat coming under 



