96 



as is generally supposed, but by slightly turn- 

 ing the wing quills so that the air sets them 

 J^TOildHtfck vibrating. One can test this, if he will, by 

 blowing on any stiff feather. 



On stormy days the birds, instead of rest- 

 I ing on the shoals, light near some lonely 

 part of the beach and, after watching care- 

 fully for an hour or two, to be sure that no 

 danger is near, swim ashore and collect in 

 great bunches in some sheltered spot 

 under a bank. It is indeed a tempting 

 sight to see perhaps a hundred of the 

 splendid birds gathered close together on 

 \ the shore, the greater part with heads 

 tucked under their wings, fast asleep; 

 but if you are to surprise them, you must 

 turn Indian and crawl, and learn 

 patience. Scattered along the beach 



i^^c^^^ on either side are single birds evi- 

 dently acting as sentinels. The 

 crows and gulls are flying con- 

 tinually along the tide-line after 

 food; and invariably, as they 

 pass over a flock of ducks, they 

 rise in the air to look around 



