1894
Feb. 17
(no 2)
Off the New Jersey coast.
This theory seemed to me absurd although
perhaps they did obtain some benefit from
keeping in the lee of our hull, but they
often rose above the upper deck without
seeming to feel the wind.
[margin]Kittiwake
Gulls[/margin]
  They are more graceful and bouyant than
the Herring Gull but they did not look
to me much smaller. Indeed, before I
put the glass on them and made out the
diagnostic markings I was in doubt as to
whether they were not Herring Gulls. Most
of them carried the feet pressed up against
the under side of the tail but plainly visable,
even to the naked eye. In the case of a few
individuals, however, I could see nothing of
either legs or feet. The bill was usually pointed
downward and the head kept moving from
side to side. When any food was thrown overboard
these Gulls at once shot down on set wings
and clustered about the spot to pick it
up, dropping their legs and apparently standing as
well as walking on the water but keeping their 
wings flapping the while.
  At about 5 P.M. when out of sight of land
I saw three old male Golden-eyed Ducks flying
together close to the surface of the water, heading
south.
  The sea was white-capped and with rather
large swells during the late afternoon and
evening.