234 
THE GULL. 
something like pity, for the dull life it was doomed 
to lead in such a cradle ; it being evident that, from 
the moment of its quitting its egg-shell, to that hour, 
the choice of standing on its right or left leg, or a 
cautious putting forth of one foot before the other, 
to the extent of a few inches, was the only source 
of amusement or variety within its reach. It was 
curious to observe the proceedings of many of the 
older birds. The din was incessant, and some seemed 
quite exhausted with screaming, or hearing others 
scream ; for they might he seen flying off from the 
main body to a retired crag or niche, as if to rest 
a while in perfect silence. 
Now and then, indeed, as if by mutual consent, 
the uproar entirely ceased, and the whole body 
settled themselves on a rocky inclined plane, inter- 
spersed with grass, just below the light-keepers' 
dwellings, which formed their grand nursery esta- 
blishment; for there, in every stage of growth, 
hundreds of young ones were moving about. No 
doubt each parent had a perfect knowledge of its 
own offspring, though, generally speaking, there 
were no signs of recognition ; for, to all appearance, 
old and young seemed to mingle, without much 
reference to relationship ; and a stranger might have 
supposed there was a common property in the 
nestlings. The only sign of parental attachment 
was, that an old bird would now and then fix its 
eye in a more pointed manner upon some one of 
these living grey puff-balls of downy feathers, and 
then, suddenly opening its mouth, deposit at the feet 
of the fledgling, a crawful of half-digested shrimps 
or softened crabs. 
