196 MEMORIAL TRIBUTE 



waters, here and there, a solitary gull slowly advances 

 against the breeze, or shoots athwart, or with a beautiful 

 gliding motion sweeps down the aerial current. At 

 the entrance to Torquay are assembled many birds of 

 the same kind which, by their hovering near the 

 surface, their varied evolutions and mingling cries, 

 indicate a shoal, probably of atherines or sprats. On 

 that little pyramidal rock, projecting from the water, 

 repose two dusky cormorants ; and, far away, in the 

 direction of Portland Island, a gannet, well known by 

 its peculiar flight, winnows its exploring way, and 

 plunges headlong into the deep. But neither time 

 nor place are favourable to the observation of the 

 wading tribes, although the country around supplies 

 the greater number of those found in Britain. British 

 Birds, vol. iv. p. viii. 



