206 BLACK SKIMMER. 
glide in this manner in search of prey over a long salt-marsh bayou, or 
inlet, following the whole of its sinuosities, now and then lower them- 
selves to the water, pass their bill along the surface, and on seizing a 
prawn or a small fish, instantly rise, munch and swallow it on wing. 
While at Galveston Island, and in the company of my generous friend 
Epwarp Harris and my son, I observed three Black Skimmers, which 
having noticed a Night Heron passing over them, at once rose in 
the air, gave chase to it, and continued their pursuit for several hun- 
dred yards, as if intent on overtaking it. Their cries during this chase 
differed from their usual notes, and resembled the barkings of a very 
small dog. 
The flight of the Black Skimmer is perhaps more elegant than that 
of any water bird with which I am acquainted. The great length of 
its narrow wings, its partially elongated forked tail, its thin body and ex- 
tremely compressed bill, all appear contrived to assure it that buoyancy 
of motion which one cannot but admire when he sees it on wing. Itis 
able to maintain itself against the heaviest gale ; and I believe no in- 
stance has been recorded of any bird of this species having been forced 
inland by the most violent storm. But, to observe the aérial move- 
ments of the Skimmer to the best advantage, you must visit its haunts 
in the love season. Several males, excited by the ardour of their desires, 
are seen pursuing a yet unmated female. The coy one, shooting aslant 
to either side, dashes along with marvellous speed, flying hither and 
thither, upwards, downwards, in all directions. Her suitors strive to 
overtake her; they emit their love-cries with vehemence ; you are 
gladdened by their softly and tenderly enunciated ha, ha, or the hack, 
hack, cae, cae, of the last in the chase. Like the female they all per- 
form the most curious zigzags, as they follow in close pursuit, and as 
each beau at length passes her in succession, he extends his wings for 
an instant, and in a manner struts by her side. Sometimes a flock is 
seen to leave a sand-bar, and fly off in a direct course, each individual 
apparently intent on distancing his companions; and then their mingling 
eries of ha, ha, hack, hack, cae, cae, fill the air. I once saw one of these 
birds fly round a whole flock that had alighted, keeping at the height 
of about twenty yards, but now and then tumbling as if its wings had 
suddenly failed, and again almost upsetting, in the manner of the 
Tumbler Pigeon. 
On the 5th of May 1837,I was much surprised to find a large flock 
