ORNITHOLOGICAL EAMBLES. 11 



Keeping my eyes unmistakably rivetted upon them 

 as they became 



" Small by degrees, and beautifully less," 



I remarked with delight that one of their number 

 slowly and very gradually abandoned the ranks and 

 continued in a course of its own, and at an altitude 

 considerably lower than that of the main body. 

 Sinking in its flight by easy and deliberate grada- 

 tions, and oscillating in a very undecided manner, 

 it exhibited marked tokens of having been severely 

 hit, and of increasing each moment its indisputably 

 enfeebled state. This continued for some moments 

 longer, when it suddenly dropped, falling into the 

 water in the midst of a luxuriant growth of seaweed, 

 far out upon the bosom of the creek. Having 

 marked the spot to the best of my ability, I had 

 nothing for it but to wade, which I accordingly did, 

 and found my bird most neatly killed, without a 

 speck of blood to soil the plumage, which was per- 

 fectly matured and in excellent condition. As some 

 illustration of the brilliance of the long light evenings 

 at this point, I may mention that the above scene 

 took place at 10.40 p.m. 



It must not be supposed, because this bird is so 

 named, that its entire food is restricted to its bivalve 

 diet, as many kinds of Crustacea? and small marine 

 insects are found in its crop. They are exceedingly 



