159 
Very different from those tyrants of the 
air and of the land, which spread through 
their empire disorder, devastation, and war, 
the winged inhabitants of the water, live 
in perfect harmony with each other, and 
are never polluted with the blood of their 
kindred. Smaller force is required in- 
swimming than in flying : and the element 
which they inhabit perpetually yields them 
subsistance : they rather meet with their 
prey than search for it ; and often a friend- 
ly wave conveys it within their reach, and 
they seize it without trouble or fatigue. 
Each species congregates through mutual 
attachment. They never attack their 
companions, nor destroy other birds ; and 
in this great and amiable nation, the stron- 
ger seldom oppress the weak. 
These birds generally speaking have a 
keen appetite, and are furnished with cor- 
responding weapons. Many species have 
the inner edges of their beak serrated 
with sharp indentings, the better to 
secure their prey: almost all of them 
are more voracious than the Land 
Birds ; and there are some species devour 
indiscriminately carrion and entrails. 
