THE BLACK SKIMMER. 251 



their supper. Thousands there are, all gay, and the 

 very manner of their mirth, causing the waters to 

 sparkle, invites their foes to advance toward the shoal. 

 And now the Pelicans, aware of the faculties of their 

 scaly prey, at once spread out their broad wings, press 

 closely forward with powerful strokes of their feet, 

 drive the little fishes toward the shallow shore, and 

 then with their enormous pouches spread like so 

 many bag-nets, scoop them out, and devour them in 

 thousands." 



We must now spend a little time among the large 

 and interesting families of the Terns and Gulls, and 

 watch their beautiful motions as they skim over the 

 surface of the ocean, now rising upon the bosom of 

 the gale, and now with the swiftness of an arrow 

 plunging into the deep in pursuit of their prey. 



The Black Skimmer, or Shearwater, is a very sin- 

 gular bird, inhabiting our southern sea-coasts, where, 

 during most of the night, in localities which it fre- 

 quents, its hoarse cry may be heard as it sails over 

 the water in search of food. With wide-spread 

 wings it swiftly glides along, the lower mandible 

 ploughing the water, while the upper mandible, 

 which is movable, is elevated a little above it. In 

 this manner it secures its prey, sometimes rising 

 above the surface, and again dipping its great bill 

 as fresh objects appear. Thus, the whole night long, 

 with almost untiring energy, it skims the surface of 

 the deep, winging its graceful and buoyant flight be- 

 neath the light of the pale moonbeams, until 'lav 



