in Freedom 139 



Sooty black in colour, with white breasts, they 

 glide with their long pointed pinions all but touching 

 the surface of the waves as they go. With a few 

 rapid strokes they then sail on with outstretched 

 wings, as the whole company, of perhaps some hun- 

 dreds, moves away towards its own particular island. 



After a long May day of brilliant sunshine, when 

 the setting sun is tinging the sea with a golden light, 

 such a company of shearwaters have the effect of a 

 great funereal procession : so black do they appear ; so 

 silently do they proceed. 



In their burrows they can be heard " cukarooing," 

 as the male and female sit together, keeping their 

 white egg warm. 



We came across one shearwater — an old maid, 

 we imagined — that was solemnly sitting on an ancient 

 and weather-beaten cork ! We thought it kinder to 

 throw it away, and to chuck her into the air, in order 

 that she might take wing out to sea and find a 

 husband. 



Shearwaters are sometimes utterly helpless, in spite 

 of their long wings, when pulled out of their holes ; 

 and if put down on the ground they will struggle 

 off in the weakest manner, as if maimed or wounded. 

 The truth is, their legs are so short and weak in com- 

 parison with their bodies, that they find much difficulty, 

 when flurried, in rising on the wing ; but if thrown 

 by the hand, well up, they can then manage to keep 

 themselves going sufficiently to get up full swing. 



Sitting concealed amongst the rocks one day 

 watching the sea-birds, a Manx shearwater fell sud- 



