24 
gale, coursing over the waves, down the 
declivities, up the ascents of the foaming 
surf that threatens to bijrst over their heads; 
sweeping along in the hollow troughs of 
the sea as in a sheltered valley, and again 
mountng with the rising billow, and just 
above its surface, occasionally dropping 
its feet, which, striking the water, throw 
it up again with additional force ; some- 
times leaping with both legs parallel, on 
the surface of the roughest waves for 
several yards at a time." 
" The most singular peculiarity of this 
bird is its standing and even running upon 
the surface of the wave with apparent fa- 
cility. When any greasy matter is thrown 
overboard, these birds instantly collect 
around it, and facing to windward, with 
their long wings expanded, and their web 
feet patting the water, the lightness of their 
.bodies and the action of the w ind on their 
wings enable them to do this with ease. 
In calm weather they perform the same 
manoeuvre by keeping their wings just so 
much in action as to prevent their feet from 
sinking below the surface." 
