190 
SIFTERS, DIVERS, AND PLUNGERS. 
taking daily note of some of the species of which they are composed, 
is not struck by them, must be peculiarly unobservant, or unaccus- 
tomed to compare the objects that attract his notice. High in air, 
advancing on gently-arched and outspread wings, that winnow a 
passage for them over the far-spread sea, is seen advancing from the 
North a flock of large birds, .that are observed, as they draw nearer, 
to be arranged in lines, ever undulating and changing figure, while 
their clear cries seem to express their joy at having escaped the 
dangers of their long passage over the isleless waste of waters. Now 
they descend, mingle their ranks, wheel in dislocated bands, unite, 
sweep along, and, clamorous in their joy, at length alight on the 
open pasture. Having rested awhile and plumed themselves, they 
begin to move about in search of food, walking sedately, and with 
decurved necks, directing their strong bills to the ground, from 
which they wrench the roots of the grasses, and pluck the herbage. 
Prudent, however, as well they need to be in an unexplored tract, and 
careful of their safety, they neither scatter about at random, nor leave 
themselves subject to surprise. Should a suspicious object present 
itself, one of them presently erects himself, and emits a warning cry, 
on hearing which they all run together, raise their necks to their full 
stretch, and carefully inspect the ground. Should the danger be 
imminent, they run a few paces forward, spreading their large wings, 
ascend into the air, and betake themselves to some distant place. 
Here, close to the rocks on the shore, a large bird has abruptly 
emerged from the deep, and is gliding smoothly and rapidly along, 
his body half sunk in the water, and his bill directed towards it. 
As suddenly he disappears, gliding noiselessly with vigorous spring 
into the bosom of the sea. You watch his reappearance perhaps a 
whole minute or more, and there, at a great distance, he emerges, 
bearing in his bill a moderate-sized fish, which he soon swallows 
with erected head a^.d widened throat. 
Now sweeps into view from behind the headland a large bird, 
gliding on outspread wings, now inclining for a space to this side, 
now to that, then shooting along in a curve ; at one time skimming 
the water, at another ascending to a considerable height, and now 
and then emitting a singular cry, somewhat resembling the sounds 
of human laughter. He suddenly descends, hovers with upraised 
wings, lets down his feet, with which he seems to pat the water, dips 
his beak and head into it, and, exulting, carries off a small fish, 
which he securely disposes of. He then alights, sitting buoyantly 
on the sea ; but finding that by swimming he cannot keep his place 
in the current, he stretches his large wings, and flies off to a distant 
spot, where several birds are hovering over the waves, dipping at 
intervals and emitting their harsh screams, they being engaged with 
a shoal of flsh. Now these three birds are good enough representa- 
tions of the three orders characterised above. 
