THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF PERCE. 47 



powers of flight that we are reminded of Hans Christian 

 Andersen's tale of the discouragements that befell the ugly 

 duckling which was after all born a swan. 



What they are at their prime we can best learn from the 

 words of Mr. William Brewster, one of our most distinguished 

 naturalists, who describes them as he saw them, " floating idly 

 on the blue sea ; skimming close to the waves in the teeth of 

 a stiff breeze; hovering excitedly over schools of capelin, 

 among which they plunged with fierce energy ; and at evening 

 stringing out in long lines against the sunset sky, as they 

 flapped their way homeward to the rookery. But most vivid 

 of all is the recollection of their presence on a certain occasion 

 when our vessel was overtaken by a squall in the middle of the 

 Gulf. At the height of the confusion, when the voices of the 

 men struggling to take in sail were drowned by the rush of 

 the wind, and the sea, a moment before so calm, was furrowed 

 by furious gusts, overhead, against- the black storm clouds, 

 where lightning flashed and thunder rolled incessantly, a score 

 of the majestic birds sailed ; calm, impassive, emotionless, 

 breasting the gale as easily as if it were the gentlest summer 

 breeze. How often must such a group have been the sole 

 witnesses of still wilder scenes, when vessels less fortunate 

 than ours have foundered and sunk with all on board." 



