ORNITHOLOGICAL RAMBLES. 19 



progress to the more open water. The sun was 

 shining its very best, the wind blew soft and warm, 

 the whole landscape, as we steered away, glistened 

 more and more with all the slight transitions of con- 

 tinuous changing light which a bold and mountainous 

 background is so adapted to reflect ; and all the sur- 

 rounding scene revelled in the rich accompaniments 

 of a brilliant and propitious day. Onward the little 

 vessel pursued its way, which we beguiled with many 

 a tale of ocean marvel and provincial legend, as in 

 our lengthened tacks we glided gaily over the blue 

 water. 



We had passed several patches of sand and shingle, 

 just visible above water in the present state of the 

 tide, and more or less tenanted by oystercatchers, 

 terns, and several species of the commoner varieties 

 of gull, when a long, smooth, flat sand-bank faintly 

 loomed ahead, darkly verging on the far horizon. 

 Some twenty minutes later, when we had made con- 

 siderable way, Mackenzie softly hinted that seals 

 might possibly be found upon this bank, and that he 

 fancied he detected them with the naked eye. I 

 raised my glass and swept the distant view, and then 

 brought it steadily to bear upon the spot. Great 

 indeed was my surprise and pleasure as I descried, 

 for the first time in my life, from a dozen to fifteen of 

 these most curious creatures. 



As we drew nearer to the spot, the scene became 



