( 299 ) 



Such are the inmates of the internal parts 

 of the foreft. Along it's fhores, bordering on 

 the ifle of Wight, it is furniihed with a new 



fet of inhabitants thofe various tribes of 



fea-fowl, which frequent the brackifh waters 

 of an eftuary. 



Among the moil common, as well as the 

 moft beautiful, is the gull. Water-fowl, in a 

 peculiar manner, difcover in their flight fome 

 determined aim. They eagerly coaft the river, 

 or return to the fea j bent on fome purpofe, 

 of which they never lofe fight. But the evo- 

 lutions of the gull appear capricious, and un- 

 directed, both when {he flies alone, and, as 



fhe often does, in large companies. The 



more however her chara(5ter fufl'ers as a loiterer, 

 the more it is raifed in pi(fturefque value, by 

 her continuing longer before the eye ; and 

 difplaying, in her elegant fweeps along the air, 

 her fharp-pointed wings, and her bright filvery 



hue. She is beautiful alfo, not only on the 



wing, but when fhe floats, in numerous afTem- 

 blies on the water ; or when fhe refts on the 

 fhore, dotting either one, or the other with 

 white fpots ; which, minute as they are, are 



very 



