63 BLACK SKIMMER. 



times are their hours of rest, and I believe of sleep, as, although partially 

 diurnal, and perfectly able to discern danger by day, they rarely feed then, 

 unless the weather be cloudy. On the same sands, yet apart from them, 

 equal numbers of our Black-headed Gulls may be seen enjoying the same 

 comfort in security. Indeed the Skimmers are rarely at such times found 

 on sand or gravel banks which are not separated from the neighbouring 

 shores by some broad and deep piece of water. I think I can safely venture 

 to say that in such places, and at the periods mentioned, I have seen not 

 fewer than ten thousand of these birds in a single flock. Should you now 

 attempt to approach them, you will find that as soon as you have reached 

 within twice the range of your long duck-gun, the crowded Skimmers 

 simultaneously rise on their feet, and watch all your movements. If you 

 advance nearer, the whole flock suddenly taking to wing, fill the air with 

 their harsh cries, and soon reaching a considerable height, range widely 

 around, until, your patience being exhausted, you abandon the place. When 

 thus taking to wing in countless multitudes, the snowy white of their under 

 parts gladdens your eye, but anon, when they all veer through the air, the 

 black of their long wings and upper parts produces a remarkable contrast to 

 the blue sky above. Their aerial evolutions on such occasions are peculiar 

 and pleasing, as they at times appear to be intent on removing to a great 

 distance, then suddenly round to, and once more pass almost over you, flying 

 so close together as to appear like a black cloud, first ascending, and then 

 rushing down like a torrent. Should they see that you are retiring, they 

 wheel a few times close over the ground, and when assured that there is no 

 longer any danger, they alight pell-mell, with wings extended upwards, but 

 presently closed, and once more huddling together they lie down on the 

 ground, to remain until forced off by the tide. When the Skimmers repose 

 on the shores of the mainland during high-water, they seldom continue long 

 on the same spot, as if they felt doubtful of security; and a person watching 

 them at such times might suppose that they were engaged in searching for 

 food. 



No sooner has the dusk of evening arrived than the Skimmers begin to 

 disperse, rise from their place of rest singly, in pairs, or in parties from 

 three or four to eight or ten, apparently according to the degree of hunger 

 they feel, and proceed in different directions along parts of the shores pre- 

 viously known to them, sometimes going up tide-rivers to a considerable 

 distance. They spend the whole night on wing, searching diligently for 

 food. Of this I had ample and satisfactory proof when ascending the St, 

 John river in East Florida, in the United States schooner Spark. The 

 hoarse cries of the Skimmers never ceased more than an hour, so that I 

 could easily know whether they were passing upwards or downwards in the 



