( 300 ) 



very pidturefque : and may properly be intro- 

 duced in landfcape -, giving life and fpirit to 

 a view. Sea-painters particularly make great 

 ufe of this bird, and often with good effe6t. 

 The younger Vandervelt was fond of intro- 

 ducing it : he knew the value of a lingle bright 

 touch in heightening his ftorms. 



As the wheeling motion of the gull is beau- 

 tiful, fo alfo is the figured flight of the goofe, 

 the duck, and the widgeon ; all of which are 

 highly ornamental to coaft- views, bays, and 

 eftuaries. We often fee innumerable bodies 

 of thefe, and other fea-fowl, congregated in 

 clofe array, and filling the air with their re- 

 founding cries*. They are not hyperbolically 

 defcribed as 



■ ■ ■■ living clouds, 



Infinite wings ; till all the plume-dark air, 

 And rude refounding fhore, are one wild cry. 



In a pi<5turefque light thefe living clouds are 

 of little value -, unlefs indeed fome wild, for- 

 lorn, and rocky coaft is prefented, where thefe 



See page 191. 



fea-fowls 



