AS FAB AS HARRINGTON 



this "afternoon- tea" appearance among a 

 group of water-birds generally means court- 

 ship, so I was all attention and watched the 

 group closely. Many were dipping their heads 

 nervously into the water as they swam, and 

 presently I saw a couple circle about each 

 other as if they were doing the lady's chain. 

 Their mouths were wide open and displayed 

 the bright scarlet lining. Occasionally the ex- 

 cited birds bobbed towards each other and 

 dabbed with their bills. Their tails were 

 cocked up and their red feet showed plainly 

 in the water. Others performed in the same 

 way and I could hear frequent hissing, whis- 

 tling notes. It was no doubt the nuptial song 

 and dance, the courtship of the black guille- 

 mot. 



On July 1 8 we set sail for Harrington and 

 drifted slowly along with the light airs. Off 

 Juliet Harbor we were boarded by a fisherman 

 who had rowed out for a little Sunday-morn- 

 ing gossip. As he leaned from his boat on 

 the gunwale of the Sea Star he told us with 

 enthusiasm of his success in fishing, but he 

 looked very sheepish when the captain asked 

 about his three-months-old twins. Twins 

 141 



